News - Friday, February 26, 2021

Every attorney begins their career in the shadows of the jurists who are walking ahead of them. Before they can travel their own path, they must learn from their colleagues in the law who have knowledge, experience and wisdom to pass down.

At 26 and only one full year out of law school, Logan Davis is standing in a particularly long shadow – that of her father, renowned criminal defense lawyer Lee Davis.

Watching his daughter Logan defend her first murder case has sent criminal defense attorney Lee Davis strolling down more than 30 years of memory lane to when he handled his first homicide – a case in which the odds and the facts both conspired to put his client behind bars.

A $1 million gift has been made to the University of Tennessee in the name of Chattanooga-based law firm Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers.

The College of Law will receive $900,000 to support its Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, its legal clinic, the Douglas Blaze Professorship and scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy – one of the college’s primary areas of concentration.

February is Black History Month. The commemoration began as Black History Week in 1926, the brainchild of historian Carter G. Woodson. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling on the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Josh Walker might have less than a year under his belt as a Realtor, but that’s not stopping him from offering what he says is good advice for other new agents.

Walker, 42, became a Realtor in 2019 after recovering from an illness that sidelined him for several months and forced him to leave the restaurant industry – his bread and butter throughout adult life.

You might have received a sweet Recently for Valentine’s Day note from a loved one. That’s all fine and good for showing affection, but “love letters” can take on a different meaning in real estate.

In some cases, such letters can jeopardize a home sale and even run afoul of the Fair Housing Act.

Soaring lumber prices are adding thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home, pricing out millions of potential homebuyers and impeding the residential construction sector from moving the economy forward, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Signature Brokers has named Jeremy Callahan the new team leader for downtown Chattanooga.

Callahan previously served as an assistant team leader and productivity coach for Keller Williams Realty while operating The Callahan Group real estate team.

Brenda Purcell and Mike Purcell of Team Purcell with RE/MAX Renaissance have earned the RE/MAX 100% Club Team Award, which honors high-achieving real estate teams for their service to buyers and sellers during the past year.

This is the first year Team Purcell has received the honor.

By David Laprad

Just like Guy Fieri has never met a Guido Burger he didn’t like, I’ve never met a food truck that didn’t put a mouthwatering grin on my face. And I’ve tried my share of mobile eateries in Chattanooga.

Now that we’re a few weeks removed from 2020, it’s a good time to reflect on such a momentous year. We can think about developments in the social and political spheres, but we also learned – or perhaps re-learned – some valuable lessons about investing.

Two staff members have joined the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer team.

Julie Gersch, Ph.D., has joined as the foundation’s licensed psychologist. Gersch graduated with her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Akron in Ohio.

Attorney Maury Nicely is bringing his experience practicing the law and serving the local community to the board of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, which he recently joined.

A co-founder of Evans Harrison Hackett, Nicely practices law in the areas of employment litigation, labor law and general business litigation. His clients range from local nonprofits and startups to large national corporations.

After taking a year off due to health concerns, the Tennessee Aquarium will host redesigned summer camp programs in partnership with Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center this summer.

“We feel confident that we can provide a safe experience for children, primarily because of our partnership with Reflection Riding,” says Dr. Brooke Gorman, the aquarium’s director of science education.

Say goodbye to one room fits all: stayAPT suites are now available to Chattanooga area travelers.

The hotel launched its third location Feb. 15 in Ooltewah as part of the brand’s nationwide launch.

stayAPT Suites abandons the traditional one-room hotel layout in favor of a 500-square-foot suite with a dedicated living room, full kitchen and separate bedroom.

Like many others – including our mail carrier, newspaper deliverer, trash collector and Gigamunch meal provider – lawmakers recently took a snow break from duties.

Not to worry: Even before the freeze arrived, they had produced hundreds of bills, “the public welfare requiring it,” as the boilerplate legislative language asserts.

Lacie Romano, a Los Angeles resident, is stuck paying for a vehicle she no longer needs. Like many Americans, her situation has been upended by the pandemic.

“I leased a 2019 Lexus NX 300 before the pandemic started but I’m only driving it a couple of times a week now,” Romano says. “I really like my Lexus but it’s hard to justify the monthly payments.”