Uncategorized
Balancing Privacy and Protection: Tennessee Law Enforcement’s Use of Body Cameras and Dash Cams
In October of 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times and killed by a police officer in Chicago. The whole event was captured on the dashboard camera of another police patrol car on the scene. The dash cam footage was not released until November 2015, which is 13 months after the incident. The footage…
Read More“Gray Divorce”: Issues Facing Couples Who Split Later in Life
While the divorce rate among younger age groups has been dropping in the past decade or so, people who are age 50 or older are twice more likely to end their marriages now than they did in years past. Divorces that occur later in life, or “gray” divorce as it is now being called, is…
Read MoreObtaining 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 MoreDivorce and the Rising Cost of College
Paying for college tuition can be a controversial topic. Depending on the child’s age when their parents get a divorce, the question of how parents will cover their child’s college expenses or even if they will help their child pay for their college tuition is an issue that should be included in divorce negotiations regardless…
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 MoreWhat to do When Your Ex Denies Your Visitation Rights
During the divorce process you and your former spouse sat down and ironed out a parenting plan agreement, which contains a schedule for visitation for the parent who did not get primary residential custody. The Court reviews this document and refers to it when it issues the final custody order. The Tennessee Court as with…
Read MoreWhat Happens to My Inheritance in Tennessee Divorce?
You are the favorite nephew of your beloved aunt Thelma, who left you a nice inheritance when she passed away a few months ago. Now you have been served with divorce papers quite out of the blue and you are wondering what happens next. You and your soon-to-be-ex-wife were married when you received the sizable…
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 MoreIncreased DUI Enforcement in Williamson County Through Labor Day
The Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office is coordinating several local jurisdictions including Williamson County to increase DUI patrols through the Labor Day holiday on September 7th. The statewide campaign, “Booze it and Lose it,” is part of a nationwide effort to prevent drunk driving injuries, fatalities and the economic losses associated with drunk driving accidents.…
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 MoreReporting Domestic Violence is Worth It
Prosecutors have dropped domestic violence charges against Nashville developer David Chase. Evidence showed that his accuser, Lauren Bull, was not a credible witness, and her accounts of his behavior differed from the observations of other witnesses. This case is statistically normal; most domestic violence charges end up being dismissed. However, prosecutors and advocates of domestic…
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 MoreMuseum Employee Arraigned for Theft of More than $60,000
Kathy L. Alexander was arraigned this month for reportedly stealing more than $60,000 from the Tennessee State Museum in 2014. According to The Tennessean, Ms. Alexander has a history of theft, and was actually on parole while she was working for the museum through a staffing company. Because she has been declared indigent, Ms. Alexander…
Read MoreTennessee’s New Anti-DUI Campaign Distracts From Serious Message
Drunk driving is a serious issue, and Tennessee does not take the offense lightly. A first offense carries jail time up to 11 months, penalties up to $1,500, and loss of license for up to a year. The state has spent a significant amount of money raising awareness of this issue, but a recent gaffe…
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 More