Government and Municipal Law

Litchford, Pearce & Associates has a significant practice on behalf of municipal, other governmental and quasi-governmental bodies.  Our lawyers serve as the city attorney for the City of East Ridge, Tennessee, and are actively involved in writing ordinances addressing a variety of subjects including land use and development, telecommunications, right of way management, urban renewal, nuisance, local government budgeting, taxation, franchising, emergency services, and public utilities. We advise various governmental entities in their capacities as quasi-judicial decision making bodies, regarding open records and open meeting laws, and the implementation and effects of the Border Region Retail Tourism Development District Act. 

The Firm has also provided city council and planning commissioner training on various elements of policy/governance, planning responsibilities, including quasi-judicial proceedings and due process.  We have extensive experience in drafting municipal contracts and ordinances, assisting with land use regulation, industrial and commercial development and public-private partnerships. 

In litigation the Firm's lawyers have worked on cases involving telecommunications and right of way matters, eminent domain and inverse condemnation, negligence claims, employment disputes, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights actions, liquor licensing, zoning and building code violations, open records disputes and administrative hearing prosecution.

In addition to serving as municipal attorneys, our lawyers have also represented various private clients on matters involving land use planning and zoning, eminent domain, open meeting and public record issues, annexation, law enforcement and governmental tort liability.   The Firm's extensive involvement in local government activities provides a major benefit for our clients.  Our attorneys are actively involved with the Tennessee Municipal League, the National League of Cities, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, and the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association.  These organizations provide an added perspective to the representation the Firm provides to our government clients.