News - Friday, April 1, 2016

Converting the current real estate boom into growth, Real Estate Partners (REP) has opened an office on Shallowford Road, giving the company traction in East Chattanooga.

REP, which also has an office on Cherry Street downtown, made the launch official Thursday, March 24 with a grand opening celebration (pictured).

The legal, political, and judicial career of Raulston Schoolfield, including his impeachment and removal from office as a judge, is featured in a new book written by venerated trial attorney Jerry Summers. Weighing in at 520 pages, and containing 150 photographs and illustrations, "Rush to Justice? Tennessee's Forgotten Trial of the Century – Schoolfield 1958" is available directly from Summers.

Law Day, held annually May 1, is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. It underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms all Americans share. Law Day also provides an opportunity to recognize the role of courts in this democracy and the importance of jury service to maintaining the integrity of the courts. 

Miller & Martin attorney John R. Bode has received an invitation to become a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Membership in the Fellows is limited to one percent of lawyers admitted to practice in each jurisdiction.

Bode has devoted more than three decades to exclusive representation of management in labor and employment disputes. He represents local, state, regional, and national companies in all facets of labor and employment law, including serving as lead trial counsel in employment trials and developing strategies in addressing union aggressions throughout the country.

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel last week announced the promotion of Aleyce Fontenot to paralegal in the firm's business practice, as well as the litigation and risk management practice. 

Fontenot joined the firm in January 2013 to assist with litigation and risk management matters, quickly displaying her value among colleagues. In her new role, Fontenot will assist Chambliss attorneys and clients in the areas of corporate governance, business organizations and planning, and real estate.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga achieved a new first during the 2015-2016 mock trial season: sending two teams to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS), the second round of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA)'s annual national tournament. The competition took place in Memphis March 18-20. A single team reached nationals only once before in UTC's history.

With triple-digit growth in sales volume in 2015, Re/Max Real Estate Center had plenty to celebrate during its annual awards luncheon, held Friday, March 18 at the Walden Club. The yearly event honored the work of its agents at two locations: on Broad Street in Chattanooga, Tenn., and on Battlefield Parkway in Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.

In last week’s column, we focused on the benefit for sellers in using a Realtor to sell their home. This week, we revisit that same topic from a buyer's perspective.

Many home buyers start their home buying process by browsing the Internet, looking through a real estate magazine or the newspaper, or by simply driving around to see what homes are for sale. When that buyer finds a house that's of interest to him or her, the buyer calls the agent whose name is on the sign or in the ad. Here are five reasons why you should have your own Realtor helping you when you buy a home.

Bill Raines, the president, CEO, and founder of The Raines Group, last week took part in a ceremony honoring the U.S. soldiers who served in the Vietnam War. Held in the rotunda of the Hamilton County Courthouse on Thursday, March 24, the event marked the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. 

Buying and owning a home offers tax savings that can add up to thousands of dollars.

Many home owners in Chattanooga and the surrounding area rely on these benefits to help offset the costs of homeownership, while prospective buyers take them into consideration as a huge advantage over renting. As tax season approaches, area home owners are taking another look at how their investment can mean big savings during this time of year.

This year, Pratt Homes is celebrating building more than 1,000 homes throughout the Greater Chattanooga area. The company's 1,000th home was sold to Yassine and Amber Alboulfaida of Signal Mountain.

"This is a milestone worth celebrating," said Pratt Homes President Win Pratt. "We couldn't be more pleased with how much Chattanooga and the surrounding area have embraced our brand and trusted us to build quality homes in great communities."

How could I have done what I just did? Why would I give away the ending of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" in the title of my column? Have I committed a grievous sin? 

Actually, no. My headline has nothing to do with the results of the titular battle in the new DC Comics movie. Rather, it refers to the one character that emerges unscathed from this mess of a movie.

Where can you see 1,500 of the finest collector vehicles in the Southeast without paying a dime? The 2016 Chattanooga Cruise-In. The event will take place Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Chattanooga's historic Southside. Representatives with Coker Tire Company are expecting more than 1,500 vehicles to be at the event. The Cruise-In is free to the public.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce presented the 2016 Small Business Awards to four recipients last month at its 34^th annual Small Business Awards Luncheon.

Small businesses – from small tech startups to your local garden center or favorite neighborhood restaurant – are vitally important to our region," said Bill Kilbride, Chattanooga Chamber president and CEO. Almost 95 percent of our business members fall in the category of small business as defined by our award criteria, and we celebrate that today."

Spring marks the traditional start of digging season, when people head outside to start outdoor projects they had been waiting to tackle all winter. Chattanooga Gas wants to remind homeowners and contractors that the digging season also increases their chances of damaging underground utility lines, including natural gas, if they do not take the necessary step of calling 8-1-1 before digging.

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) will host the Second Annual Money School on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brainerd Crossroads. Money School is a free financial education day open to the public. The event will include speakers and exhibitors providing hands-on learning opportunities regarding money management, debt elimination, increased savings, as well as retirement and estate planning.

This month, hubby and I went on a short vacation, and when we returned, my three grandchildren who live in Tennessee, were on spring break and came to spend the week with us. So the last half of March was not our norm, and cooking was pretty much put aside. However, I did cook meals for the kids, but two of them are so hard to please when it comes to food!

The vicinity of April Fool’s Day is an apt time to reflect on a tale often told to first-year law students. In contracts class, perhaps. It is the story of a man who wrote a check on the side of a cow.

The point of the story ultimately would be that a negotiable instrument is judged on the language and intent in the transaction, rather than by the physical means of evincing it. Kinda, sorta.

Saturday, April 2, 1966

April has been proclaimed Dogwood Month on Signal Mountain by Mayor Chic Thomas in conjunction with the 8^th annual Dogwood Festival sponsored by the Signal Mountain Community Guild and the Civic Council of Signal Mountain.

Saturday, April 1, 1916

News of the death of Dr. Henry Berlin, beloved Chattanooga physician, who died Friday night, saddened all who knew him. He was active in the development of Erlanger Hospital. His son, Henry, arrived last night from New York. His daughter is in Florence, Italy and cannot come due to the war. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday by Dr. J.W. Bachman and Dr. E.A. Elmore. Burial in Forest Hills.

Dear David,

I always look forward to reading “Critic’s Corner” and very much enjoyed hearing your favorite films. Like you, I love movies, have for as long as I can remember. But choosing five favorites is not an easy thing to do. I even think my picks have changed over the years. For instance, whenever I’ve been asked for just one I have always said it is “The Godfather.” But based on your criteria that may not be true anymore. There are simply others I would pick to watch first.