By Milton Kirby | Chattanooga, TN | November 12, 2025

A federal judge has paused the receiver’s bid to expand control beyond Uncle Nearest, Inc. to other Weaver-owned businesses, ordering the parties to exchange financial records first. The stay comes via an “Agreed Order Staying Proceedings Related to Receiver’s Motion for Clarification,” entered October 29, 2025, in Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA v. Uncle Nearest, Inc.

What the order does

Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. temporarily halts litigation on the receiver’s request to fold affiliated Weaver entities—such as Humble Baron, Classic Hops Brewing, and Shelbyville Barrelhouse BBQ—into the receivership. Instead, the court requires two years of bank statements and financial records from the affiliates within seven days, with permission for the receiver to review up to three additional years if needed.

Why it matters

The stay keeps those affiliates outside the receivership for now, while giving Receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. visibility into their finances. The scope question—whether the court should broaden control beyond Uncle Nearest, Inc.—remains unresolved until the records review is complete and any follow-up hearing is set.

The defense’s position

Attorneys for Fawn and Keith Weaver argue the attempted expansion chilled business and partnerships, contributing to over $1 million in lost revenue; they have signaled potential claims tied to that harm.

Case backdrop

The court placed Uncle Nearest under receivership in August after Farm Credit Mid-America sought protection of collateral and continuity of operations. The first quarterly report (filed October 1) cited missing records, overlapping entities, and a stabilization plan with significant professional-fee and vendor-catch-up costs.

Sidebar: Why the Case Is in Chattanooga

Though Uncle Nearest, Inc. operates in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and creditor Farm Credit Mid-America is based in Louisville, Kentucky, the federal receivership case is being handled in Chattanooga.

That’s because Shelbyville and Bedford County fall under the Chattanooga Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, where Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. presides. This means all filings, orders, and hearings — including the October 29 Agreed Order Staying Proceedings — are issued through the Chattanooga federal courthouse, even though the business operations in question are about an hour northwest.

In short: Shelbyville is the stage, but Chattanooga is the courtroom.

What’s next

The parties face deadlines to complete disclosures and propose next steps. After the receiver reviews the affiliates’ financials, the court will decide whether to expand the receivership—or keep it narrow. TSJ will monitor the docket for any new motions or hearing dates.

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