Watch What You Say, DA: Tennessee Appeals Court Rules Prosecutors Can Be Sued for Defamation
In the first ruling of its kind, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that prosecutors do not have immunity from these types of cases, and that they can be sued for defamation. Knox News reports that “although state policymakers — including the governor and government agency chiefs – enjoy ‘absolute’ immunity from defamation lawsuits…
Read MoreWhen Car Crashes Lead to Surgery
Even a minor car crash can cause serious injuries. When cars traveling at higher rates of speed collide, the driver and passengers can be thrown into each other, into the dashboard, and even out of the car. Pedestrians and bicycle riders who are struck by a car are often lucky to survive the car accident.…
Read MoreAre Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Rape Kits Reliable?
DIY rape kits have been developed in response to concerns that many rape victims don’t go to the emergency room of their local hospitals. ER staffs are trained to provide rape testing for victims. The emergency room tests are reliable, the staff understands how to implement them, and the evidence is then kept securely by…
Read MoreHow Wrongful Death Lawsuits Work in Tennessee
The most tragic cases any law firm handles are the ones where a loved one dies due to the negligence or fault of another. While a lawsuit can never fully compensate for the loss of a loved one, a wrongful death lawsuit should compensate the family of the victim to the maximum extent the law…
Read MoreHow Does the Breathalyzer Actually Work?
Breath tests are used by law enforcement, typically the police officer who stops you, to determine your blood alcohol level (BAC). If your BAC is .08 more, then the Tennessee law provides that you are guilty per se of driving under the influence. While a BAC below .08 does not qualify as a per se…
Read MoreThe Three Types of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
If the police have reasonable grounds to believe you were driving while intoxicated, they will pull you over and ask you to submit to field sobriety tests. If you fail the field sobriety tests, then you will likely be arrested and asked to take a breathalyzer test. In Tennessee, drivers give their implied consent to…
Read MoreWho Is Liable in a Car Accident Involving Uber/Lyft?
Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft help people all across Tennessee get to work, meet with their doctors, arrange for social visits, and get across town. Some of the benefits of rideshare services are that you can reserve a ride when you need one, and the cost is often less than taking a taxicab.…
Read MorePossession, Sale, and Trafficking in Opioids
Opioids have been in the news the past few years because too many people are dying from overdoses. Defendants who are charged with selling opioids and related drugs can face lengthy jail sentences, huge fines, loss of reputation, and civil lawsuits. According to Drugpolicy.org, “Opioids are a class of drugs that act on opioid receptors…
Read MoreExploding E-Cigs and the Dangers of Vaping
CNN recently reported that a 17-year old needed to travel from his small Nevada town to a Utah pediatric hospital after his e-cigarette exploded, shattering his jaw and breaking many of his teeth. The doctor at the trauma center who treated him said that people need to know that vaping can be extremely dangerous. And…
Read MoreLiability in Defective Car Parts Cases
The last decade or so has seen an exponential increase in recalls for auto defects. From faulty ignition switches to projectiles shooting out of dangerous airbags, these defects have caused serious injuries and deaths. If a defective auto part causes your injury, the manufacturer of that part could be held liable for your injuries. Manufactures…
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