Criminal Law

We focus our criminal law work on those crimes that affect families. If you suffer from domestic violence, need an order of protection, or a family member has been accused of shoplifting, drunk driving (DUI), or another misdemeanor, please give us a call. We will listen to you.

Domestic Violence has many names: spousal abuse law, wife abuse, husband abuse, child abuse and elder abuse. It happens when a person willfully inflicts bodily injury, resulting in a traumatic condition, upon another person with whom they are cohabitating. Under Tennessee Law, domestic violence is a crime regardless of gender. Even though the accused and the injured party are within the same family, it is considered an offense against society. This means that even if the person who called the police decides that she made a mistake, the District Attorney can still prosecute the case.

Drunk Driving, or DUI, is a serious offense. But it starts with a guess: does the police officer think that you were drinking too much? The consequences can be severe - just a first conviction can result in a large fine, two days in jail and a one year license suspension. The Tennessee Department of Safety says that you can plan on spending over $4,900 for a first offense. An experienced attorney can help you find ways to defend the accusation, and to mitigate the damage. If you or someone you care about has been accused, please do not wait to contact us.

Shoplifting, "joy-riding" and other "petty" crimes can carry serious penalties. But just as a menu is not a meal, an accusation of theft need not mean jail time. We have experience working with merchants and the District Attorney's office, and can put that experience to work. Give us a call, and we will listen to you.