Author: Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers
Tennessee court uses DUI suspect’s words against him
Anyone who has ever seen a legal drama on TV knows the words, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” That well-known phrase is more than a phrase. It if very much a cornerstone of the legal system. A criminal suspect must be read his rights. He
Musician’s recent Tennessee arrest adds to list of DUI troubles
n the past we have shared information about the legal hardships experienced by Todd Harrell, a band member of rock group 3 Doors Down. He has been arrested various times in his life, and a couple of those arrests have been within the last couple of years here in Tennessee. Now, the bassist faces more
Conflict of interest in Tennessee DUI cases challenged
Someone who is convicted of DUI in Tennessee is required to pay at least a $250 fine. While convicted offenders and their families might feel that financial pinch, maybe they don’t think about where that money is going to. According to Tennessee criminal defense lawyer Jerry Summers, where the money from the DUI fines go to is
Jerry Summers and Benjamin McGowan, of Summers & Wyatt P.C. Attorneys at Law, file motions raising constitutional questions
As written by Beth Burger, of timefreepress.com, Jerry Summers and Benjamin McGowan, of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers, have filed motions seeking to dismiss blood testing evidence in 22 DUI cases, arguing that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has a financial conflict of interest. The motion that raises constitutional questions was submitted Friday. The motion argues that state law enforcement has an incentive
DUI bracelets: All the rage in Tennessee drunk driving cases?
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports on what might be a positive trend for DUI offenders in Tennessee. Sure, each arrest and charge has its own set of circumstances, but overall, if something is keeping men and women out of jail while also protecting the community, it could be considered a win-win situation, right? DUI
Consequences of DUI conviction include job opportunity
A common fear among the public is that, if they get arrested and convicted of a crime in Tennessee, they will go to prison. Whether incarceration is a real threat depends on the criminal charge and case. For example, a Tennessee DUI conviction doesn’t necessarily mean someone will serve extensive jail time. A first offense
3 Doors Down musician meets closed door with DUI appeal
The human body and the science of impairment are complex matters. The criminal justice system likes to try to simplify the issue of impairment, but there can be more to a seemingly impaired driver than too much alcohol in his system. It wasn’t just the fact that a famous musician was the defendant that made
Want to volunteer for a DUI investigation?
States technically have their own drunk driving laws, but a DUI-related matter is making a national stir. That’s because there is a constitutional issue with the way that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is supposedly “collecting data” about drivers. In Tennessee and the rest of the country, police generally must have probable cause to
In Tennessee, New Year’s and ‘No Refusal’ go hand-in-hand
While many are probably back to work after the Christmas holiday, there is still a big holiday this week. New Year’s Eve celebrations will surely have brought more joy to Tennessee, with New Year’s Day adding more fun to follow. For some drivers, however, the joy of the festivities might be tainted by the stress
Feds hope strict DUI punishment will spread nationwide
The opportunity to drive means different things to different people. For a teenager, it is a new sense of freedom and independence. For a mother, it is a way to get her kids (and herself) out of the house and to the store for the third gallon of milk for the week. For many Tennesseans,