When Filling Up Leads to Felonies and Civil Liability

When last call comes, bartenders often find themselves in a mad dash to sell the last of their drinks. If their patrons are already drunk, legally, the bartenders should cut them off to ensure that they don’t drink and drive, lest they find themselves (and their establishment) named in a civil lawsuit. In Tennessee, you…

Read More

Is It a Crime to…? Where Tennessee Law and TV Diverge

One of the less fortunate effects of police procedurals on television is that people often misconstrue what is legal and what is not. They may not understand exactly when a person’s Miranda rights must be read, or how honest police must be. They may also believe that certain actions are less serious than they are,…

Read More

Cicada in the Car? You Can Still Be Held Liable for a Crash

There are billions of Brood X cicadas swarming the Midwest and the East over the past few months, emerging from the Smokies (and backyards in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg) around May. They’re big and dopey (and little weird looking), and generally harmless to people. But because of the sheer size of the swarms this year,…

Read More

The Danger of Left-Hand Turns

It’s fairly common knowledge that making a left-hand turn at an intersection is more dangerous than making a right-hand turn. When you turn left, you need to enter into traffic from oncoming lanes. When you turn right, you normally are only concerned that the traffic in the lanes nearest you has stopped. Generally, a left-hand…

Read More

Will a Background Check Reveal a DUI/DWI?

Employers, apartment owners, and other businesses often conduct criminal background checks. If a conviction, or even an arrest, appears on the report, it can affect your ability to be hired, rent an apartment, or other rights. There may be some confusion about DUI/DWI offenses because driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics may appear…

Read More