Monthly Archives: August 2011
Tennessee Passes Web Entertainment Theft Bill
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has signed a groundbreaking legislation that went into effect July 1st, making the theft of “subscription entertainment services” a crime. Previously, the state law in Tennessee deems it illegal to steal a “service.” A “service” was … Read More
Social Security Number: When Are You Required To Provide It?
Originally created as a means of recording a person’s revenue in order to calculate the Social Security benefits they were entitled to, the Social Security number (SSN) was never intended to be a personal identifier. Even so, over time the … Read More
Illegal to Pat Someone Down without Reasonable Suspicion
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals reversed a trial court ruling last month relating to a pat down search of a Defendant outside a bar that led to the Defendant’s charge for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. The … Read More
The Effects of Bankruptcy on Social Security Disability Benefits
Sadly, it is not uncommon for disabled individuals to struggle with their financial responsibilities due to the inherent difficulty in working. Those receiving Social Security disability benefits with debt problems frequently turn to debt settlement services. Debt settlement services cease … Read More
Handwriting Analysis and the Law
Handwriting analysis, also known as graphology, is the study of handwriting to determine a person’s personality. Graphologists study script characteristics such as pressure, continuity, letter proportions, the length and angle of strokes, and the slope of the writing to create … Read More
A State Misdemeanor Citation without a Description is Void
From time to time, as a Criminal Defense Attorney I encounter individuals charged with State Misdemeanor Citations wherein the police officer failed to provide a decription of the underlying actions. In a recent Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals case, State … Read More
Hire a Lawyer now rather than later for an Underage Alcohol Possession Charge
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals on July 18, 2011 issued an opinion on an underage alcohol consumption case granting some relief to an individual that had been convicted of underage alcohol consumption that would have otherwise carried a permanent … Read More
Divorce More Accessible and Cheaper Under New Tennessee Rule
In an effort to improve access to justice the Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted a new rule that will allow Tennesseans without minor children or dependents, pension plans, and property or businesses to file for divorce without lawyers. The new … Read More
An Inability to Pay Restitution Won’t Get You Put in Jail
In many cases a person may be placed on probation with an order of the court to pay restitution. Such a situation is very common in theft cases or situations where another party suffers personal injuries or property damage in … Read More
“Caylee’s Law” Center of Debate in Tennessee
The recent acquittal of Casey Anthony for the murder of her two-year old daughter, Caylee, has sparked an increasing amount of controversy and brought possible weaknesses in the law to light. A focal point of the controversy was that Casey … Read More
