The January / February 2023 edition of the Tennessee Bar Journal has published my new column – “Defamation Cases – Yet Another Land Mine.”
New Blog on Tennessee Procedure and Evidence
I am pleased to announce that I have started a new blog on Tennessee law of civil procedure and evidence.
Practical Procedure and Evidence is created to help Tennessee civil trial lawyers stay current on civil, appellate, and evidence issues. It will include not just new cases and rule changes but will also give lawyers practical tips on how to handle certain evidence and procedure issues in their practice.
For example, from time to time it is necessary to seek additional time to respond to a court-ordered deadline or a deadline imposed by the rules of procedure. Some deadlines cannot be extended, even by court order, but many can be.
Cases Pending Before the Tennessee Supreme Court – 2022 Wrap-Up
As 2022 comes to a close, here is a brief summary of the cases pending before the Tennessee Supreme Court.
There are twenty civil cases pending before the Court. The “oldest” pending cases (calculated from the date of oral argument) are Gardner and Ultsch – both cases were argued April 6, 2022. Review of the Mathes case was just accepted December 15. Click here for a full list of pending civil cases, the subject matter involved, and their status.
There are ten criminal cases pending before the Court. The “oldest” pending cases (once again calculated from the date of oral argument) are Forest and Lyons – both cases were argued April 6, 2022. Review of the Dotson case was granted October 25. Click here for a full list of pending civil cases, the subject matter involved, and their status.
Free, Helpful Information About the Shelby County, Tennessee Court System
BirdDog Law offers a large variety of free information to Tennessee lawyers and paralegals. Among the free resources are 95 databases, one for each Tennessee county, that share information about the operation of the court system in that county. Each database is set up in the same format for ease of use.
For example, click on the link for Memphis and Shelby County. The opening page will give you population and demographic information for the county. The “Court Clerks and Related Information” has contact information for each court clerk, the clerks’ websites, the local rules of court, e-filing information, docket information, and filing fee information for all courts.
The “Judges” tab has biographical and contact information for all judges in the county.
Free, Helpful Information About the Lawrence County, Tennessee Court System
BirdDog Law offers a large variety of free information to Tennessee lawyers and paralegals. Among the free resources are 95 databases, one for each Tennessee county, that share information about the operation of the court system in that county. Each database is set up in the same format for ease of use.
For example, click on the link for Lawrence County. The opening page will give you population and demographic information for the county. The “Court Clerks and Related Information” has contact information for each court clerk, the clerks’ websites, the local rules of court, e-filing information, docket information, and filing fee information for all courts.
The “Judges” tab has biographical and contact information for all judges in the county.
Online Tennessee CLE!
Tennessee Justice Programs provides 15 hours of on-demand continuing legal action for Tennessee lawyers. Penny White, Joe Riley, and I speak on a variety of subjects of interest to Tennessee trial lawyers who do civil trial work. Reduced rates available for those who purchase multiple courses. Fifteen hours of CLE credit are available for $550.
Click here for a listing of the topics addressed at the seminar.
Check out the Justice Programs website to learn more.
Free, Helpful Information About the Hickman County, Tennessee Court System
BirdDog Law offers a large variety of free information to Tennessee lawyers and paralegals. Among the free resources are 95 databases, one for each Tennessee county, that share information about the operation of the court system in that county. Each database is set up in the same format for ease of use.
For example, click on the link for Hickman County. The opening page will give you population and demographic information for the county. The “Court Clerks and Related Information” has contact information for each court clerk, the clerks’ websites, the local rules of court, e-filing information, docket information, and filing fee information for all courts.
The “Judges” tab has biographical and contact information for all judges in the county.
Free, Helpful Information About the Giles County, Tennessee Court System
BirdDog Law offers a large variety of free information to Tennessee lawyers and paralegals. Among the free resources are 95 databases, one for each Tennessee county, that share information about the operation of the court system in that county. Each database is set up in the same format for ease of use.
For example, click on the link for Giles County. The opening page will give you population and demographic information for the county. The “Court Clerks and Related Information” has contact information for each court clerk, the clerks’ websites, the local rules of court, e-filing information, docket information, and filing fee information for all courts.
The “Judges” tab has biographical and contact information for all judges in the county.
Bench trial verdict for plaintiff in truck wreck case based largely on credibility affirmed.
Where the trial court found plaintiff 25% at fault and defendant 75% at fault in a negligence case related to a crash between a car and tractor trailer, the Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict for plaintiff.
In Kindred v. Townsend, No. W2021-01481-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App Dec. 7, 2022), plaintiff filed this negligence suit against defendant and defendant’s employer based on a motor vehicle accident. Defendant was driving a tractor trailer while employed by defendant employer, and she turned left at an intersection. There was contradictory testimony regarding whether the traffic light was giving a green turn signal, a yellow turn signal, or a permissive green light when defendant began her turn. Plaintiff was approaching from the opposite direction and was not yet to the intersection when the light for her lane turned green. She proceeded through the light without slowing down, and her car and defendant’s tractor trailer collided.
Justice Programs Seminar – Memphis December 15 and 16
Penny White, Joe Riley and I will be hosting our annual 15-hour seminar program Memphis on December 15 and 16, 2022.
The program provides the fifteen (15) hours required CLE and includes three (3) hours of ethics/ professionalism/dual credit on Friday afternoon. You may register for both days (15 hours), one and a half days (11 hours), one day (7.5 hours), or one-half day (4 hours). Click here for a listing of the topics addressed at the seminar.
We will also be offering the same 15 hours of CLE via video. Those interested in remote learning can purchase all fifteen hours, individual hours, or bundles of hours.