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Friday, July 4, 2025
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David vs. Goliath
Courthouses, Hollywood are awash with tales of little firms taking on giants. Here’s how some locals did it
On a brisk and biting January morning in 2018, a woman walked through the doors of Michel & Ward’s downtown Chattanooga office wearing a surgical mask. This was more than two years before COVID-19 made face coverings common. When she sat down across from Alix Michel and David Ward – the firm’s only two attorneys – she removed the mask.
Hamill recalls battle with Boston, BCBS
Doug Hamill knew the case would be a fight. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee had a team of seasoned attorneys, led by one of the most respected litigators in the state. Bob Boston of Holland & Knight was at the helm for BlueCross, bringing his deep experience as the company’s longtime employment counsel. Hamill, a Chattanooga-based attorney, was joined only by his paralegal, Krista Guinn.
Chatterton: AI, outside funding help level the odds
For generations, civil litigation has occasionally carried the cadence of an old Bible story: David, with his sling and stone, defying the might of Goliath. But attorney Marcus Chatterton, a tech-minded litigator with Balch & Bingham in Birmingham, Alabama, says that parable no longer fits the modern courtroom, where technology, litigation funding, and shifting legal strategies are rendering the underdog’s triumph a relic of the past.
How do attorneys fight back against unknown foe?
By David Laprad In the age of cybercrime, even the most powerful law firms can find themselves in an impossible position: fighting a battle against an enemy who might not even have a name. “I come from a relatively large law firm,” says Marcus Chatterton, an intellectual property litigator based in Birmingham, Alabama. “We typically represent businesses, many of them well-resourced. But sometimes, we find ourselves pursuing someone who’s more or less anonymous – a hacker, a scammer – and it feels insurmountable. We might never find out who they are.”
Laprad feature story honored by TN Press Association
David Laprad of the Hamilton County Herald won first place in the Tennessee Press Association statewide contest for Best Single Feature for his article on Christy Howard, a 50-year-old Chattanooga woman who suffers from epilepsy, and her quest to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Consumer guide: Preparing for homeownership
Buying a home isn’t just about finding the right property – it’s also about being financially and mentally ready for the journey. From credit scores and down payments to timing and budgeting, there’s a lot to consider before you begin the search.
Financial Focus: Work toward your own financial independence day
Celebrating Independence Day might remind you of the many freedoms you enjoy. But have you thought of what you might need to do to attain financial freedom? Your first step is to define what financial independence signifies to you. For many people, it means being able to retire when they want and to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle. So, if this is your vision as well, consider taking these steps:
Hats off to the national anthem, but that’s all
Joe Rogers is spending a little time celebrating the independence of not having to write a column this week…or next. He’ll be back in two weeks, but meanwhile, enjoy this set of musings from July 2022. I don’t think of myself as a rebel, college alma mater (Hotty toddy!) notwithstanding. But I staged a mini-protest the other night at a Sounds game by refusing to stand and take off my hat as requested.
One-year transfer to UT pays off for Tennessee’s Lanier
Transferring to the University of Tennessee for his fifth year of college basketball helped boost Chaz Lanier’s draft stock. Lanier showed professional organizations he was capable of making the jump to a high-level Division I program and improving his all-around game.
Five three-row EVs that are great for big families
Most electric vehicles are five-passenger sedans or SUVs. But automakers are increasingly expanding their lineups to cater to shoppers wanting a three-row EV that can serve as a family hauler. These EVs can seat six or seven passengers, haul lots of cargo and potentially have more than 300 miles of driving range. They also come standard with many advanced safety features.
What's in Trump's big bill that passed Congress and will soon become law
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans muscled President Donald Trump's tax and spending cut bill through the House on Thursday, the final step necessary to get the bill to his desk by the GOP's self-imposed deadline of July 4th. At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations.
Vanderbilt's Blakes scores 27 points to lead US to AmeriCup gold and berth at World Cup next year
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored 27 points and the United States beat Brazil 92-84 to secure a berth in next year's World Cup in Germany. "What a performance by our team. Knew it would be a tough physical game. It was what we expected," U.S. coach Kara Lawson said. "Brazil is a wonderful team. The power they have in the frontcourt gave us some challenges. Our team continued to fight, and we felt like if we could wear down with our depth a little bit maybe in the fourth quarter we could pull away."
American kids have become increasingly unhealthy over nearly two decades, new study finds
The health of U.S. children has deteriorated over the past 17 years, with kids today more likely to have obesity, chronic diseases and mental health problems like depression, a new study says. Much of what researchers found was already known, but the study paints a comprehensive picture by examining various aspects of children's physical and mental health at the same time.
OPEC+ to boost oil production by 548,000 barrels per day in August
NEW YORK (AP) — Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries say they will boost production by 548,000 barrels per day in August in a move that could further reduce gas prices this year. The group that includes Saudi Arabia and Russia made the decision at a virtual meeting Saturday. They cited a "steady global economic outlook" and low oil inventories.
BRICS group condemns increase of tariffs in summit overshadowed by Middle East tensions
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The BRICS bloc of developing nations on Sunday condemned the increase of tariffs and attacks on Iran, but refrained from naming U.S. President Donald Trump. The group's declaration, which also took aim at Israel's military actions in the Middle East, also spared its member Russia from criticism and mentioned war-torn Ukraine just once.
Musk says he's forming a new political party after split with Trump over tax cuts law
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Elon Musk said he's carrying out his threat to form a new political party after his fissure with President Donald Trump, announcing the America Party in response to the president's sweeping tax cuts law. Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump as he headed up the slashing agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency, broke with the Republican president over his signature legislation, which was signed into law Friday.
Trump says he'll put 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea, new import taxes on five other nations
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday set a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, as well as new tariff rates on Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos and Myanmar, all of which would go into effect on Aug. 1. Trump provided notice by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of the various countries. The letters warned them to not retaliate by increasing their own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would further increase tariffs.
Temporary status to be removed from roughly 80,000 Hondurans, Nicaraguans after 25 years in US
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is ending the temporary status for nearly 80,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans that has allowed them to live and work in the U.S. for a quarter of a century after a devastating hurricane hit Central America, according to federal government notices — a move that comes as the White House pushes to make more immigrants in the U.S. eligible for deportation.
Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump's deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives. After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country, the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts, though most in the heavily Republican state stopped sort of blaming Trump's cuts. Democrats, meanwhile, wasted little time in linking the staff reductions to the disaster, which is being blamed for the deaths of at least 80 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors attending a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to stop DOJ grant cancellations
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to rescind nearly $800 million dollars in grants for programs supporting violence reduction and crime victims. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington on Monday denied a preliminary injunction sought by five organizations on behalf of all recipients of the more than 360 grant awards, and granted a motion by the federal government to dismiss the case. Mehta called the Department of Justice's actions "shameful," but said the court lacked jurisdiction and the organizations had failed to state a constitutional violation or protection.
RFK Jr. promoted a food company he says will make Americans healthy. Their meals are ultraprocessed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday praised a company that makes $7-a-pop meals that are delivered directly to the homes of Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. He even thanked Mom's Meals for sending taxpayer-funded meals "without additives" to the homes of sick or elderly Americans. The spreads include chicken bacon ranch pasta for dinner and French toast sticks with fruit or ham patties.
Trump sets 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea, new import taxes on 12 other nations
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday set a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, as well as new tariff rates on a dozen other nations that would go into effect on Aug. 1. Trump provided notice by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of the various countries. The letters warned them to not retaliate by increasing their own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would further increase tariffs.
Amazon extends Prime Day discounts to 4 days as retailers weigh tariff-related price increases
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is extending its annual Prime Day sales and offering new membership perks to Gen Z shoppers amid tariff-related price worries and possibly some consumer boredom with an event marking its 11th year. The e-commerce giant's promised blitz of summer deals for Prime members starts at 3:01 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday. For the first time, Seattle-based Amazon is holding the now-misnamed Prime Day over four days; the company launched the event in 2015 and expanded it to two days in 2019.
Student loan cancellation program could become Trump retribution tool, some advocates fear
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is reshaping a student loan cancellation program into what some fear will become a tool for political retribution, taking aim at organizations that serve immigrants and transgender youth. Public Service Loan Forgiveness allows government employees, such as teachers and firefighters, plus many who work for nonprofits, to have their student loans canceled after they've made payments for 10 years. The Education Department is preparing an overhaul that would strip the benefit from organizations involved in "illegal activities," with the final determination left up to the U.S. education secretary. A draft proposal released by the department includes definitions of illegal activity that center on immigration, terrorism and transgender issues.
Trump says US must send more weapons to Ukraine, days after ordering pause in deliveries
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a pause in critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv. The comments by Trump appeared to be an abrupt change in posture after the Pentagon announced last week that it would hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons because of what U.S. officials said were concerns that stockpiles have declined too much.
Investors snap up growing share of US homes as traditional buyers struggle to afford one
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Real estate investors are snapping up a bigger share of U.S. homes on the market as rising prices and stubbornly high borrowing costs freeze out many other would-be homebuyers. Nearly 27% of all homes sold in the first three months of the year were bought by investors -- the highest share in at least five years, according to a report by real estate data provider BatchData.
Trump administration pulls back on plans to rewrite Biden-era asbestos ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is dropping plans to allow continued use of the last type of asbestos legally allowed in U.S. manufacturing after an outcry from asbestos opponents. The Environmental Protection Agency said in a court filing Monday that it will now defend the Biden administration's ban of chrysotile asbestos, which is used in products like brake blocks and sheet gaskets.
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