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Obtaining Police Personnel Files to Support Your Criminal Defense Case
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, and you observed some form of misconduct on the part of the arresting officer – whether it was the use of excessive force, a violation of your civil rights, or you suspect that they might have planted or tampered with evidence – you may wonder…
Read MoreCan You Fight an Ignition Interlock Device Penalty in Tennessee?
An Ignition Interlock Device (IID) is a piece of equipment that contains a breathalyzer. It connects with a vehicle’s ignition system and requires the driver to breathe into it before the car will start. If the driver has more than .02 BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) in their breath, the vehicle will not start. If the…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Drugged Driving and the Consequences in Tennessee
In the same way that drinking and driving is hazardous, drugged driving, which is getting behind the wheel while under the influence of illicit drugs or prescription drug, puts both the driver, their passengers and the other drivers on the road in danger. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately…
Read MoreUnderstanding Electronic Discovery in Divorce Litigation
We are surrounded by electronic screens in every aspect of our lives these days. Our mobile phones are never out of reach, we stare at computer screens all day and then stare at a television screen in the evening, which is likely to be streaming content from the Internet. Because we use electronic devices constantly,…
Read MoreJudge’s Ruling on a Procedural Flaw Could Affect 80 Sullivan County DUI Cases
There has been a glitch in the way DUI cases have been processed in Sullivan County for the past 20 years. Until recently, no one took notice that Rule 3 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure were not being followed in Sullivan County, which could lead to the dismissal of at least 100 pending…
Read MoreChanges to Tennessee’s Vehicular Homicide Sentencing in 2015
Tennessee changed its sentencing law on vehicular homicide back in 2015. Vehicular homicide is the “reckless killing of another by the operation of an automobile, airplane, motorboat or other motor vehicle, as the proximate result of: Conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person; The driver’s intoxication, which includes…
Read MoreAlcohol and Drug Abuse Can Affect Alimony Payments in Tennessee
Alimony, sometimes called spousal support, is awarded to a spouse by a judge. Unless you and your spouse have worked out a plan in your Marital Dissolution Agreement, the process of awarding alimony is an entirely subjective one: a judge is not forced to award alimony to anyone. However, if you file under certain grounds,…
Read MoreRobbery and Theft Abound In Tennessee
A man was attacked and robbed recently outside of the Donelson-Hermitage YMCA after setting up a meeting with Ronald Payne, 22, and Tyler Austin, 18. The victim got to a phone after the duo punched him in the face and took his cell phone, keys, and wallet, and reported the incident to police. Officers responded…
Read MoreSmuggling Drugs into Jail is a Felony
Eight suspects are facing indictments for smuggling drugs into Wilson County jail before they were scheduled to be incarcerated. According to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, the suspects knew they were going to serve time, and attempted to smuggle prescription drugs, marijuana and cocaine into the facility. Department spokeswoman Sharon Curstis-Flair said, “In some cases,…
Read MoreWhat are the Real Life Consequences of a Misdemeanor Conviction?
Misdemeanors are commonly considered to be relatively petty crimes with the maximum jail time of 11 months and 29 days and fines of up to $2,500 in Tennessee. Depending on the circumstances, an individual who is arrested for a misdemeanor may not end up serving any jail time at all, but the other consequences of…
Read MoreA Whipped Cream High Can Get You a DUI in Tennessee
According to Franklin police, Anna Thomas, age 28 was charged with DUI after crashing her SUV into a mailbox on Battle Avenue. Ms. Thomas had allegedly inhaled the nitrous oxide from 13 cans of whipped cream to get high and then got behind the wheel at 9:00am on Wednesday, June 3rd. Ms. Thomas had allegedly…
Read MoreGetting Your Juvenile Record Expunged in Tennessee
The teenage years are a time of rapid physical development, of testing boundaries and re-examining relationships with authority. In this often challenging time of life some kids get themselves into trouble with the law. Parents may have done the best that they could to raise smart, respectful children, but those children are also exposed to…
Read MoreHeading to Bonnaroo? Understanding Drug Charges and Penalties in Tennessee
Preparations for Bonnaroo are in full swing. Soon, festival attendees from the local area and from all over the country will soon be descending on tiny Manchester, Tennessee to have four rocking days of fun in the summer sun, enjoying the best musical acts and all that the four-day entertainment extravaganza has to offer. Unfortunately,…
Read MoreThe Supreme Court Will Hear Same-Sex Marriage Arguments on April 28
Tennessee has had a ban on same-sex marriage since 1996, and voters approved a constitutional ban in 2006 – but the future of this ban might be in question. On April 28th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear 2.5 hours of arguments on same-sex marriage in four cases from Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Tennessee. The…
Read MoreWhat are the Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction?
Domestic violence can take many forms. Behind closed doors at home, sometimes violence erupts from pent-up hurt feelings and hurtful words. Other times it’s a case of one person using physical strength to control a partner through fear and intimidation. Or maybe one partner is looking to get the upper hand over the other in…
Read MoreWhat are the Penalties for Underage DWI in Tennessee?
When an individual who is under the age of 21 is pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving he/she may be charged with Underage Driving While Impaired (Underage DWI). Since it is illegal for anyone who is under age 21 to purchase or drink alcohol, driving drunk is against the law for minors. A minor…
Read MorePunishments for Repeat DUI Offenders in Tennessee
Getting caught driving drunk is a serious offense, which you already know because you have been through this already if this is your second offense. According to NHTSA studies, a person with a prior DUI conviction has 4.1 times the risk of being involved in a fatal vehicle accident. Another study reported that the chances…
Read MoreArrested at Bonnaroo? Here’s what to Do Next
It’s no secret that a few of the more than 90,000 fans that attend Bonnaroo, the legendary music and arts festival in Manchester, TN each year will use drugs or get drunk while having fun at the show. The four-day festival attracts performers that are well known along with more up-and-coming acts who perform in…
Read MoreNew Bill Seeks to Eliminate Loopholes in “Cooling Off” Period
The Tennessee House Criminal Justice subcommittee is looking to create a new bill that would close any loopholes in the mandatory “cooling off” period for those charged with domestic violence. Sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-Cottontown) and Senator Steven Dickerson (R-Nashville) the amendment would eliminate a judge’s right to waive the mandatory 12 hour jail…
Read MoreProtecting Yourself at Bonnaroo This Year
We are only a few short months away from Bonnaroo 2015, and the line-up looks incredible. Ticket sales have been non-stop since the Manchester festival was announced, and it is likely that this year’s festival numbers will be higher than ever. That means that at least 70,000 people (and potentially even more) will all convene…
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