President Donald Trump approved a federal disaster declaration for all counties in the state of Tennessee following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 2. The action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to save lives; protect property, public health and safety; and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. No individual assistance is authorized at this point. News reports indicate that a suspected tornado hit Selmer in West Tennessee early today. At least four people are dead in the state, Tennessee Lookout reports, including one each in Carroll, Fayette, McNairy and Obion counties. The Commercial Appeal has images from hard-hit Selmer.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) recently launched an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force to advocate for the elimination of laws and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competition. As a first step, the DOJ Antitrust Division will initiate a process to seek information from the public and industry experts about laws and regulations that make it more difficult for businesses to compete effectively, especially in the areas of housing, transportation, food, agriculture, health care and energy. Comments should be submitted by May 26 to www.Regulations.gov (Docket No. ATR-2025-0001). Read more about the task force on the division’s website.

Dyersburg lawyer Charles “Bubba” Maurice Agee Jr., age 76, died March 25 at his home at Clover Creek Ranch in Hornbeak. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Agee launched his legal practice in 1976 in Dyersburg and spent his career in the courtroom as a plaintiff’s lawyer. He also held several elected offices, including alderman at large and city judge for the city of Dyersburg. A memorial service will be held April 12 at 4 p.m. CDT at Dyersburg Funeral Home, 420 US-51, Dyersburg 38024. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Memorial donations may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Protect Democracy or National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The 2025 Business Law Forum will take place later this month on April 24 in Nashville, offering a full day of education and networking for Tennessee's business law community. The event will feature two sessions: "TN Business Law 101" in the morning, aimed at early career professionals and seasoned practitioners looking for a refresher, and "Advanced Topics" in the afternoon for those dealing with more complex legal issues. Attendees can register for the full day or choose to attend just the morning or afternoon sessions based on their interests. For more information and to register, visit TBA’s website. 

The Tennessee Bar Association’s online renewal for 2025-2026 is now open! Renew your membership to continue your access to TBA Today, the Tennessee Bar Journal, three free hours of CLE, resources for starting and building a new firm, and free legal research through vLex Fastcase, as well as savings on a range of products and services. Be sure to check out TBA's Preventing Legal Malpractice providers and Law Firm in a Box, and watch for more information this fall about TBA’s Group Health Insurance enrollment. Attorneys not participating in the TBA's firm billing program can log in and renew through their MyTBA dashboard. The TBA membership team will be working with firm administrators for those participating in firm billing so check with your firm administrator if you have questions about that process.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place April 9 from 12-2 p.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on March 26 directed the Board of Board of Professional Responsibility to respond to a filing by California lawyer Dale Gerard Nowicki that discipline imposed against him by the California Supreme Court should not be imposed in Tennessee. The court directed Nowicki to explain why reciprocal discipline should not imposed. He responded on March 10, arguing that identical discipline should not be imposed in Tennessee. The court directed the BPR to file its response by April 23.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released Formal Opinion 516, offering guidance for lawyers seeking to end a representation under Rule 1.16(b)(1). The opinion clarifies when a lawyer’s withdrawal would have a "material adverse effect" on the client’s interests, which would prevent withdrawal, including if it significantly harms the client’s progress, increases costs or hinders the client’s ability to achieve legal objectives. It also notes that lawyers may mitigate these effects and withdraw without violating the rule if the harm is minimized. The opinion concludes that lawyers should exercise care and thoughtfulness in deciding whether to accept an engagement and generally refrain from ending a relationship without good cause, but even careful lawyers may occasionally need to end representation.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has released the final report on the Covenant School shooting, WKRN news reports. The 48-page report covers several topics, including the shooter’s motive and a detailed account of the attack. In March 2023, six people were killed, and the shooter, Audrey Hale, was fatally shot by Metro officers. According to the report, Hale had sought notoriety, acted alone in planning and carrying out the attack, and left no reason for the attack or choice of target. In 2024, a judge ruled in favor of Covenant families who fought to keep Hale’s writings sealed after a legal battle over their release. Despite that ruling, the Tennessee Star claimed to have published 90 pages of the so-called manifesto in September 2024.

A proposal that would allow public schools to take certain actions involving children without legal immigration status is headed to the state Senate floor after clearing the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee yesterday. The Senate version of the bill would require school districts to verify each student’s immigration status. For children without citizenship or a visa, schools could choose whether to enroll them, deny them, or charge their families tuition based on the state’s per-student funding model. Last Wednesday, the House version of the bill advanced in the House Education Committee, according to WPLN News.