Services

Civil Practice

Personal Injury Law

	Automobile Accidents and Injuries
	Bodily Injury
	Motorcycle Accidents
	Defective Products
	Slip & Fall
	Wrongful Death

People who get injured because of the fault of someone else may have a claim against that person. If you have been injured in an automobile accident, motorcycle accident, work related accident, or slip and fall due to someone's carelessness, you may be able to recover against the responsible party.

If you have questions concerning your injuries and need legal assistance, I welcome an opportunity to discuss your case with you. The consultation is free and you will hopefully have a better understanding of your case. I look forward to speaking with you.

Criminal Defense

Felonies & Misdemeanors

	Assaults
	Computer Crimes
	Domestic Violence
	Drug Crimes
	DUI
	Juvenile Crimes
	Kidnapping
	Murder
	Sexual Offenses
	Thefts
	White Collar Crimes

In Tennessee, felonies are crimes that are punishable by one year or more in prison, whereas misdemeanors are crimes that are punishable by any time in jail for less than one year.

I have been representing people accused of crime for approximately twenty years. I have handled felony cases ranging from murder to drugs. I have handled misdemeanor cases ranging from DUI to public intoxication.

When you hire me, I will represent you. I will go to court with you and I will see the matter through until the end. I have tried hundreds of criminal cases and have helped those with criminal problems. If you have a question on a criminal matter in Tennessee and seeking legal advice, contact me and lets discuss your case.

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Assaults

Assaults can be felonies or misdemeanors depending on the facts. Punishment ranges from one day in jail up to thirty years in prison, for certain sexual assaults. Fines range from zero to twenty-five thousand dollars. Your attorney will help you determine which range applies to you

Once a lawyer investigates the facts, he may find certain defenses that will help you, such as self-defense or consent. Just because a person has committed an assault, doesn't mean that he or she is going to jail.

If you have been charged with any form of assault, I will do everything legally possible to help you. Let me know if you would like to discuss your case with me.

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Computer Crimes

The computer age has brought with it its own set of crimes. Punishment ranges from one day in jail, up to thirty years in prison, depending on which crime has been charged. Fines range from zero up to twenty-five thousand dollars. Generally, the seriousness of the crime is determined by the amount of money or property that was taken. Your attorney will help you determine which range applies to you.

There are defenses to this crime, such as where the accused acted under an honest claim of right to the property, or where the client acted unintentionally. The possibility of using any and all defenses available should be discussed thoroughly with your attorney.

The client should know that just because he faces jail time, does not mean that he will go to jail. There are other ways to settle a case other than going to jail. I will be glad to sit down with you and discuss all possibilities of helping you, and I look forward to meeting with you.

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Domestic Violence

Violence within the family has unfortunately grown at an alarming rate. This crime all to often involves drugs or alcohol during a time when tempers get out of control.

Punishment for this crime can range from one day in jail up to fifteen years in prison. The fines can range from zero up to ten thousand dollars. Your attorney will help you determine which range applies to you.

There are several ways an attorney can help you. For example, there may be a defense to the crime, such as self-defense or consent. The client may qualify for probation and/or expungement (concealing the public record of the crime).

I will sit down with you and discuss your options and course of action for your case. If you have been charged with any form of domestic violence, let me know if I can help you.

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Drug Crimes

Drug offenses are very serious crimes. Their punishment ranges from jail time of one day up to sixty years for the most serious drug offenses. Their fines range from zero to five-hundred thousand dollars. People accused of drug crimes should make no statements to anyone and should contact an attorney immediately.

There are several things an attorney can do to help his client. He can investigate as to whether the drugs can be used as evidence against the client. If they can not, then generally the case will be dropped or settled.

Another way of helping the client is for the the attorney to determine if the client would be a good candidate for a program that exonerates the client. If the client is accepted, he is generally given probation, and upon successfully completing probation, his record is expunged (concealing the public record of the crime). These matters are complicated and require the complete co-operation of the client.

If you are charged with a drug offense, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss your case with you.

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DUI

A motorist who is stopped for DUI in Tennessee has certain rights which include the right to remain silent. There are other important rights which should be discussed with an attorney.

A DUI arrest can lead to loss of driving privileges and time in jail. Once convicted, the motorist will have a permanent record of that conviction, and it can be used against him in future court proceedings for up to ten years.

DUI's can be successfully defended and I have done this for approximately twenty years. Whether I can help you will depend on the facts of your case.

I would welcome an opportunity to sit down, discuss your case and offer my opinion. Let me know if I can help.

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Juvenile Crimes

Over the past twenty years, I have represented hundreds of children in the juvenile courts, all over Tennessee. I have found that a child in trouble with the law is not necessarily a bad kid. In fact, most of the time it's a good child that gets in trouble. The juvenile laws want to help the children of our state, and are designed to be fair. Most juvenile cases can be resolved by giving the youngster a second chance.

For the most serious of juvenile crimes, there is a proceeding where the juvenile court can transfer the case to the adult court. If that happens, generally the child faces the same punishment as an adult. It is important that you contact an attorney before any transfer hearing.

Children accused of crime do have a right to an attorney in court. Anytime a juvenile faces jail time, he has the right to an attorney. For some crimes the child could face a sentence to the Department of Children's Services and could remain there until the child turns 19.

Parents of a child in trouble with the law should seek legal counsel as soon as possible. If you need such counseling, I may be able to help you.

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Kidnapping

The punishment for this crime ranges from one day in jail up to sixty years in prison, depending on which crime has been charged. The fines range from zero up to fifty thousand dollars. Your attorney will help you determine which range applies to you.

There are defenses to certain degrees of kidnapping, and there are facts which can lessen the punishment if you are convicted of the more serious forms of the crime.

A person accused of this crime should contact a lawyer immediately, and should not make any statements regarding the facts of the offense to anyone except his attorney.

If you have been charged with any form under the kidnapping laws, I will be glad to discuss your case and see what help I can offer.

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Thefts

Unfortunately, crimes of theft are very common. Punishment ranges from one day in jail, up to fifteen years in prison, depending on which crime has been charged. The fines range from zero up to twenty-five thousand dollars. Your attorney will help you determine which range applies to you.

There are certain things a lawyer can do to help a client accused of these crimes. Certain defenses, which if established, can exonerate the client. Some people are willing to plead to a lesser form of the crime, not realizing that any criminal conviction for theft, no matter how minor, can adversely affect the client for life.

For example, when a person with such a conviction fills out a job application and states that he has a conviction for theft, he is unlikely to get the job. The same applies to a young adult who is filling out a college application.

Before settling any theft charges, talk to an attorney first. Do not limit your future because you didn't know how a theft conviction, no matter how small, could hurt you later. I may be able to help you if you want to discuss your case.

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Murder

Murder is the ultimate crime. If severe enough, it can carry the death penalty. Homicides (unlawful killings) are punishable by prison time from one day in jail up to life in prison without parole, or the death penalty.

A very common form of homicide is vehicular homicide. This crime generally involves an intoxicated driver who kills another with his automobile. Not all homicides are punishable. Some are justifiable, as when a person acts in self-defense.

If you have taken a blood or breath test, the state must still prove that the test was accurate and the testing machine was reliable. I have successfully defended motorists who have taken these tests. Even where a driver is accused of driving while intoxicated, the State of Tennessee must still prove the fact of intoxication before a conviction is warranted.

If you have been accused of any homicide, make no statements to anyone about your case except your attorney. Contact a lawyer immediately and let him advise you further. I have been doing this for twenty years, and I'd welcome an opportunity to discuss your case.

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Sexual Offenses

Sexual assaults are extremely serious crimes. Punishment ranges from one day in jail up to sixty years in prison, depending on which crime is charged. The fine ranges from three thousand dollars up to fifty thousand dollars. Your attorney will help you determine which range applies to you.

There are a wide range of sexual offenses, and it is important that the client contact an attorney immediately if he has been so charged. Do not make any statements to anyone regarding the facts of the offense. Discuss those facts only with your attorney.

There are several ways an attorney may be able to help you. For example, there may be a defense to the crime. If there is, the client will be exonerated. There may be a way to get probation and avoid jail. There may be a way to lessen prison time at sentencing. These things need to be carefully considered by the client and his attorney.

If you have been accused of any sexual offense and need to discuss your case with me, be assured that all matters will be held in the strictest of confidence.

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White Collar Crimes

White collar crimes are unique in that those accused are often citizens, businessmen and professionals who may be leaders in the community. The attorney-client privilege guaranties that whatever the client says to the attorney is said in the strictest of confidence.

There are a large variety of white collar crimes ranging from class C misdemeanors, which carry a minimum jail sentence of one day, up to class B felonies which carry a range of up to thirty years in prison. The fines range from zero up to twenty-five thousand dollars.

As with theft convictions, a conviction for a white collar crime can affect the client adversely for life. Most white collar crimes involve some form of dishonesty and/or deceit. If you are convicted of this type of crime, that conviction can be used against you in future court proceedings for up to ten years. It can also keep you from making a living. For example, when filling out a job application, an employer will probably not hire you if you have been convicted of a white collar crime.

If you have been accused of this type of crime, do not make any statements to anyone except your attorney. These cases are usually very complicated and need in-depth discussions.

There are defenses to certain of these crimes, such as a lack of criminal intent, or negligence. These are matters that a skilled attorney can explore with you. If you want to discuss your case, please let me know. I've been helping clients accused of white collar crimes for twenty years.