Ted Practicing Law
Murfreesboro, Tennessee ~ 2021
Oil on Canvas
30" x 24"
Ted Goodman, lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with his wife, Kelly, and son Will. Ted has NF1 and scoliosis that is often associated with NF. Ted wore a back brace from the age of 14 to 20. Though Ted had several NF tumors removed as a child, he was not formally diagnosed until he was 25 years old.
As a law-student at the University of Tennessee, Ted received offers of commission as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer from the Army and the Airforce. However, those offers were contingent upon receiving a satisfactory medical examination. During a follow up military physical in April, the doctor detected symptoms of spinal cord compression and ordered an MRI which revealed two NF tumors located at C1 and C2. Later that week, with just two weeks remaining before law school graduation, and only 12 weeks before the bar exam, Ted consulted with a neurosurgeon who informed Ted that he would have to cancel his plans to take the bar exam because he would be recuperating from a major neurosurgery to remove the tumors. In the matter of just a few days, Ted’s military career evaporated and he learned he would be undergoing major surgery. However, Ted was very fortunate because his spinal cord compression was discovered mere weeks before doctors believed he would have likely experienced permanent partial or total paralysis.
While recovering, Ted studied for the bar exam. He returned to his native Murfreesboro, married Kelly, opened his law practice, and eventually became a partner at Murfree & Goodman, PLLC, focusing his practice in estate planning, probate, business, and real estate law.
Ted’s neurologist, Dr. Paul Moots, created a non-profit corporation to provide support for NF patients, their families, and public awareness initiatives called NF Tennessee, Inc. Ted volunteered his time to perform the legal work necessary to establish the organization, and has served on its board since its inception. Besides serving on a myriad of other community boards as well, Ted enjoys spending time on his family’s farm with his wife and son.
As a law-student at the University of Tennessee, Ted received offers of commission as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer from the Army and the Airforce. However, those offers were contingent upon receiving a satisfactory medical examination. During a follow up military physical in April, the doctor detected symptoms of spinal cord compression and ordered an MRI which revealed two NF tumors located at C1 and C2. Later that week, with just two weeks remaining before law school graduation, and only 12 weeks before the bar exam, Ted consulted with a neurosurgeon who informed Ted that he would have to cancel his plans to take the bar exam because he would be recuperating from a major neurosurgery to remove the tumors. In the matter of just a few days, Ted’s military career evaporated and he learned he would be undergoing major surgery. However, Ted was very fortunate because his spinal cord compression was discovered mere weeks before doctors believed he would have likely experienced permanent partial or total paralysis.
While recovering, Ted studied for the bar exam. He returned to his native Murfreesboro, married Kelly, opened his law practice, and eventually became a partner at Murfree & Goodman, PLLC, focusing his practice in estate planning, probate, business, and real estate law.
Ted’s neurologist, Dr. Paul Moots, created a non-profit corporation to provide support for NF patients, their families, and public awareness initiatives called NF Tennessee, Inc. Ted volunteered his time to perform the legal work necessary to establish the organization, and has served on its board since its inception. Besides serving on a myriad of other community boards as well, Ted enjoys spending time on his family’s farm with his wife and son.