John does his usual thorough job in analyzing this past year’s cases and statutory changes relating to torts and comparative fault. 

John does his usual thorough job in analyzing this past year’s cases and statutory changes relating to torts and comparative fault. 

John follows up last year’s program where he will “deep dive” into ten additional civil procedure and evidence topics. The program will include useful forms and checklists.

John follows up last year’s program where he will “deep dive” into ten additional civil procedure and evidence topics. The program will include useful forms and checklists.

John discusses the ins-and-outs of scheduling orders and pretrial conferences, including forms and checklists.

Joe analyzes and summarizes Tennessee legislation passed during 2021. He then follows up on last year’s presentation on civil and criminal cases pending at the same time involving the same underlying facts. 

Penny J White. and Joe G. Riley

Getting a judgment is the name of the game in civil litigation, but sometimes keeping it can be just as challenging.  In this interactive program, Joe and Penny will discuss methods of acquiring, protecting, or, perhaps, setting aside judgments.  The discussion will include the latest case authority on default judgments, consent judgments, offers of judgment, and Rule 60 modifications of judgments.  

Most of Joe’s mediation cases involved insurance companies who insured one of the parties.  In this discussion, Joe will offer guidance to plaintiff and defense counsel which will include ethical issues which may arise.

Joe first discusses various political happenings over the past year which have impacted the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law. He then discusses numerous U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued during the 2020-21 term.

Penny reviews the significant decisions from the United States Supreme Court and the Tennessee courts in the areas of civil procedure, employment, family law, workers' compensation, estates and property.  A case a minute – but you will leave knowing more than when you came.

 Penny reviews the significant decisions from the United States Supreme Court and the Tennessee courts in the areas of civil procedure, employment, family law, workers' compensation, estates and property.  A case a minute – but you will leave knowing more than when you came.

In this session, Penny will discuss two of the most controversial and complex types of evidence – “me-too” evidence in employment cases and “substantial similarity” evidence in products liability and tort cases.  Not complex enough for you?  How about “not me-too” and “not substantial-similarity” evidence?

If every lawyer were unethical, there’d be a surplus of materials for ethics programs, right?  But most lawyers aren’t unethical.  So what are the key ethics that even ethical lawyers may have trouble avoiding?   Are you vulnerable?  And if you sense you are about to encourage an ethics trap, what’s the best way to avoid it?   In this multi-faceted program, Penny will cover a half dozen of the most common ethics traps and help assure that ethical lawyers avoid them.

We lawyers live in a contentious world of conflict and disagreement. Many in our profession make the same mistake made in our overall culture as well. They see civility as weakness. But the most effective lawyers are civil in their advocacy, their representation of their clients, and in their interaction with their fellow lawyers.