By Judge Brian Addington, Gray

Before the pandemic, I reached out to several schools and groups to discern their interest in attending a court presentation about workers’ compensation in Tennessee. I received responses from a few schools, home school groups, and the Cub Scouts. Before the pandemic set in, I was able to host a Beta Club group and the Scouts at the courthouse in Gray. However, most of the appointments were canceled as the offices shuttered and we did not have public contact for some time. 

I felt the need to restart the idea, so I recently reached out again.

On Feb. 10, I presented before 18 high school students and three staff at the TN Avenue Christian School in Bristol. We discussed the Court and workers’ compensation in Tennessee. The students were engaged. They asked questions and answered mine, and we had a delightful conversation. I asked staff attorney Traci Haynes to participate, and she shared the duties of a staff attorney and encouraged the students to work hard and pursue their dreams. 

If your group is interested in participating in an educational discussion about the Court in the Northeast Tennessee area, contact Ms. Haynes at 423-854-5163. We’d love to see you. 

At the end of the discussion at TN Avenue, I gave away a gift card to the student who could answer which percentage of an employee’s average weekly wages is used to determine the compensation rate. Although I’m not offering a prize for you to answer it, you know it, right? The students did. 

Photo by Traci Haynes.