Month: April 2020
Courtroom monitor: Only 59% of DUI arrestees are convicted
The anti-drunk driving group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) routinely sends observers into courtrooms in 15 states (not including Tennessee) as part of its Court Monitoring Program. The idea is to pressure the justice system into prosecuting DUI to the fullest extent possible. The cases they monitor are simple drunk driving cases involving no injuries
Are field sobriety tests required by law?
Not in Tennessee. Field sobriety tests are a way for the police to develop probable cause that you are driving while intoxicated. They are aimed at identifying problems with balance, attention and physical abilities that may be impaired by alcohol or drugs. The police may ask you to perform these tests, but you cannot be
Beware: Mistakes with cleaners could poison you
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poisonings from cleaners and disinfectants were up 20% during the first three months of this year compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. Although the authors can’t be certain, they think that people stepping up their cleaning in response to
Domestic violence accusations: Not to be taken lightly
Accusations of domestic violence are very serious. Even if there is no conviction, a charge can have a considerable impact on your personal and professional life. And in the uncharted territory of the current situation we live in, the rate of individuals reporting domestic violence and filing charges is increasing. What are the penalties for domestic
Did Walmart obstruct the opioid investigations?
After a civil lawsuit is filed, a process goes on called “discovery.” In this process, each side gets to investigate and gather information, including from the other side. This includes asking questions to be answered under oath, asking for admissions, seeking copies of documents and generally attempting to discover the other’s involvement. For example, a
Can drug recognition experts really tell if you’re impaired?
This question is the subject of litigation. Drug recognition experts, or DREs, are typically police officers who have completed additional training. The claim is that they, unlike ordinary officers or regular people, can recognize certain signs of drug intoxication. However, some of the techniques they use are highly questionable. Have you been pulled over and
Is your dresser dangerously top-heavy?
What would happen if a child climbed your dresser? What if they pulled out the drawers and used them as steps? Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common scenario. The problem is that many dressers are top-heavy — especially when the drawers are partly pulled out. And top-heavy furniture can fall on children. Tragically, the result is
W.R. Grace vermiculite workers to get compensation from insurer
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring silicate mineral commonly found in an asbestos-laden rock formation known as Vermiculite Mountain in Montana. The mineral expands when heated, which allows it to absorb three to four times its own volume in water. This property makes it useful as a plant potting medium, and it has been widely sold
Tips to choose the safest car seat for your baby
There is a long list of things to buy when you are expecting your first child. From the right bassinet to the safest baby toys, every parent only wants what is best to protect the child they welcome into the world. This is a natural instinct. But deciding which products are the best for your
NTSB: More than 60% of drivers in wrong-way crashes are impaired
Have you been arrested for driving the wrong way on a highway? If so, chances are it occurred either at night or on the weekend and you were probably driving in the lane closest to the median. And, chances are, you were charged with DUI. According to a special investigation by the National Transportation Safety