Do Not Resuscitate Order – an Ethical and Legal Dilemma
When emergency medical personnel encounter an individual with life threatening circumstances that involve loss of pulse or loss of breathing, these individuals must know whether or not the patient has authorized a “do not resuscitate order,” or DNR order. This is a medical order that requires the signature of a doctor. It states that the…
Read MoreNew Harsher Penalties for Persistent Repeat DUI Offenders in Tennessee
Drivers in Tennessee who have repeatedly engaged in the activity of drinking and driving now face harsher penalties than ever. New laws put in place in 2016 focus special attention on individuals who have received a DUI conviction more than four times. The penalties for DUI convictions for first through fourth time offenders are already…
Read MoreThe Admissibility of Tattoos in a Criminal Trial
A recent Pew Research Center study said that 38 percent of young people from 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. That’s a lot of people with a lot of tattoos. When someone is arrested, often the arresting agency will obtain information about the tattoos. These descriptions may not be the something an accused…
Read MoreWhen the Cold Weather Comes, It Matters Where You Keep the Dog
Tennessee just had its first snowfall of the year – and if looks like we might see a lot more of it in the coming months. That means we need to put in our storm windows, make sure our pipes are in good condition, and keep some extra blankets and firewood out in order to…
Read MoreI’ve Been Injured in a Motorcycle Crash. What Do I Do Now?
There is nothing quite like the feel of riding a motorcycle. Tennessee has some of the prettiest roadways in the country, and taking off on the bike for a drive can be exhilarating. The problem is that most drivers don’t know how to act around motorcycles, and that can lead to some pretty nasty collisions.…
Read MoreAvoiding a DUI This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here, and the end of the year is approaching fast. Many people will celebrate with their friends and loved ones between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve – and those celebrations may include drinking wine, eggnog, or other alcoholic beverages. Some of them will then get behind the wheel, thinking they can…
Read MoreTennessee State Supreme Court Issues Important Ruling on Behalf of Injury Victims
The laws surrounding personal injury cases in Tennessee are complicated, but a recent Tennessee State Supreme Court decision struck a decisive blow on behalf of personal injury victims. The decision was rendered in the case Jean Dedmon v. Debbie Steelman, et al., and allows plaintiffs to submit the full cost of their medical bills, as…
Read MoreOlder Americans Are Dying of Loneliness. Literally.
In January of 1956, Elvis Presley recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” at the RCA Studio B in Nashville. A couple of weeks later, he sang it on national television for the first time. (The rest, as they say, is history.) By the time he gets to the chorus – “I’ll be so lonely, baby/ Well, I’m so…
Read MoreStealing is Stealing, No Matter How It’s Done
The laws governing theft in our state can be confusing – especially if you’re accused of breaking one. Broadly speaking, under Tennessee state law, theft occurs when a person purposefully and knowingly takes property without the owner’s permission. There are a wide variety of theft classifications, both at the state level and the federal level.…
Read MoreGatlinburg Gives Back: Help for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
Contrary to our deepest wishes, we cannot control the destructive properties of nature. A fairly recent example of just how destructive and devastating nature can be is Hurricane Harvey. A Category Four Hurricane, the storm ravaged Southeast Texas and the surrounding areas from August 25, 2017 to August 29, 2017. Often after our darkest hours,…
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