The Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) has bestowed the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award on attorneys Shea Callahan and Matt Hardin. For seven years, Callahan and Hardin handled a medical malpractice case in Davidson County Circuit Court. The duo was recognized for their exceptional work on the case, which resulted in a $16 million verdict for their client. Callahan earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University in 2010. Hardin is a second-generation Tennessee attorney specializing in plaintiff personal injury law, practicing throughout the state and Kentucky. Read more in a release from TTLA.

Nicholas Waldon Smotherman, 41, of Mt. Juliet was arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers and other charges stemming from his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to court documents, Smotherman was filmed shoving a police officer, attempting to take the officer's baton, and yelling obscenities during the riot. He is charged with felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement and assaulting officers in addition to several misdemeanors. The case is ongoing and being investigated by the FBI's Memphis and Washington, D.C., field offices. Smotherman will make his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The U.S. attorneys office for the district announced the charges in a press release.

The University of Memphis School of Law has expanded its faculty with the addition of Danielle Copes and Jeffrey Miller as assistant professors. Copes, an expert in contracts and corporate law, brings extensive experience in both academia and legal practice. Notably, she taught the nation’s first fully online J.D. legal communication and skills course. Miller will direct the school’s Disability Rights Law Clinic, using his background in disability rights advocacy and litigation. The law school announced the hirings in a new e-newsletter from Dean Jim Strickland.

The Adoption Law Section's annual forum is scheduled to be held on Sept. 9 at the Tennessee Bankers Association's Barrett Training Center in Nashville. Sessions include a legislative update, disruptions and secondary placement options, and a discussion of how adoption filings interact with juvenile court proceedings. Thanks to members' feedback, there also will be extra time allotted for the case law update! Make plans now to join colleagues for this informative program.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has unveiled a new report exploring the profound influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal landscape. The report, released by the ABA's Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence, delves into a wide range of AI-related legal issues, including its impact on legal practice, ethics, access to justice and legal education. The task force aims to equip lawyers and judges with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate this rapidly evolving technological landscape. To complement the report, the ABA has also published a book offering practical guidance on AI's legal implications.

The Nashville Davidson County Register of Deeds Office will be closed from Aug. 7-9 due to construction-related work. Register of Deeds Karen Johnson announced yesterday that the office will reopen Aug. 12. This construction work is being required to install air units for the building. E-recording Services will remain available and uninterrupted. "We are working diligently to open the entire space and this time is necessary to ensure construction deadlines are met but to also ensure the safety of our customers." Johnson said. "We expect to be back operational from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. [CDT] Monday during our regular business hours.

Misappropriation of client funds is where many attorneys run afoul of professional conduct rules. Trust accounts, where you hold entrusted but unearned client money, deserve special care and monitoring. Use this guide to reconcile your trust account balances. Find this and more in the Money Management section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

In an ongoing investigation into U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' campaign finance disclosures, the Maury County Republican has confirmed that the FBI had taken possession of his cell phone. “It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings,” Ogles said in the post made to X, formerly known as Twitter. “We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward. It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings." An FBI spokesperson declined to comment. The Tennessean has the story.

The American Bar Association House of Delegates (ABA HOD) at its annual meeting Aug. 5 and 6 approved a range of policies, including one that embraces democracy and the rule of law, and another that expresses opposition to government actions that require the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. Altogether, the HOD worked through about four dozen resolutions that also addressed gender-affirming laws, the Equal Rights Amendment and a host of new policies advocating for human rights in countries around the world. The HOD encompasses 590 delegates from ABA entities and state, local and specialty bar associations. Read more in-depth coverage of the policies and resolutions adopted in a press release from the ABA.

The law license of Marion County lawyer Howard Graham Swafford Jr. has been transferred to disability inactive status. Swafford may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the Tennessee Supreme Court for reinstatement by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law.