Chattanooga Law Blog

Tiger Woods' DUI probation ends one month early

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in DUI/Drunk Driving Charges on Monday, September 24, 2018.

As you probably recall, golf star Tiger Woods was arrested in May 2017 after Jupiter, Florida, police discovered him asleep at the wheel inside his vehicle. The car was stopped in the middle of a Florida road with a turn signal still blinking.

As we discussed on this blog at the time, Woods tested positive for several substances, including marijuana, anxiety medications, prescription painkillers and sleeping pills. He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs. Shortly afterward, he completed a 45-day inpatient drug treatment program.

Could a tour of the ER, ICU and morgue improve teens' driving?

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Motor vehicle wrecks are the No. 1 cause of accidental deaths among American teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in every three accidental teen deaths in the U.S. involves a traffic crash. What kinds of interventions are effective at reducing the risky behaviors often seen in teen drivers such as texting, using cellphones, speeding, and riding with an intoxicated driver?

What can happen at a DUI roadblock in Tennessee?

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Breath Test Refusal/Implied Consent on Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

Whether your night out included alcohol or not, there is a moment of hesitation when you're driving home and see a sign for a DUI roadblock ahead. With the street full of officers and patrol vehicles to enforce the roadblock, the situation gets intimidating quickly.

It's important to know the rules for both you and the officers so that you can make the process as easy as possible. While there are rules to follow, it's important to know that you still have rights at a DUI roadblock.

Here are some rules for DUI roadblocks in Tennessee.

Survey documents driving dangers in Tennessee

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Monday, September 17, 2018.

A recent survey by the personal finance site SmartAsset comparing drivers by state has ranked Tennessee drivers as the second worst in the country. The ranking was based on four factors: the percentage of drivers with insurance, the number of DUIs per thousand drivers, the average number of fatalities per 100 million miles driven, and the frequency with which state residents Google search terms like "traffic ticket" or "speeding ticket."

E-cigarettes may self-ignite even when used properly

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Defective Products on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

Early last month, a carry-on bag caught fire at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Luckily, a vigilant Transportation Security Administration officer got the flaming bag out of the airport and away from people.

"I saw a threat and I decided to take it out of the path of the passengers," he told reporters.

It turned out that the fire was caused by an e-cigarette that ignited on its own.

Chattanooga man's DUI conviction vacated on appeal

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Breath Test Refusal/Implied Consent on Monday, September 10, 2018.

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned the DUI conviction in a case pursued by Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers wherein a client was charged with driving under the influence after failing a blood-alcohol test at a highway patrol roadblock in 2012.

What parents should know about the new car seat recommendations

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

Every three years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reviews recent crash data and their recommendations for car seats. According to the academy, proper use and installation of car and booster seats can reduce the chances of injury or death by 70 percent or more.

Late last month, they revised their recommendations.

In this post, we will discuss what this means for your child's car seat and how to protect your kid while you're in the car together.

Talc, asbestos and cancer: 5 things to know

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Defective Products on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

Injured people or their families have filed thousands of cases against Johnson & Johnson involving ovarian cancer caused by personal hygiene products such as Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.

An increasing number of lawsuits are alleging those same talc-based personal hygiene products also cause other types of cancer, including mesothelioma.

Here are five important things to know about talcum powder cases.

Tennessee Supreme Court reaches decision in DUI fee case

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Breath Test Refusal/Implied Consent on Friday, August 31, 2018.

In an earlier post, we told you about a case our attorneys had spent years litigating that challenged the constitutionality of a fee arrangement associated with statewide DUI convictions. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) was receiving a $250 fee for every successful DUI prosecution involving blood or breath test evidence.

Our attorneys argued -- and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals agreed -- that the fee arrangement was unconstitutional, as it provided a financial incentive for forensic scientists toward evidence that would lead to a conviction. The state legislature agreed that the fee arrangement was unfair, and earlier this year they acted to close the loophole that allowed those fees to go directly to the TBI instead of to the state's general fund.

Home renovation and asbestos exposure: a comparative perspective

On behalf of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers posted in Mesothelioma on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

Renovating your home can be a satisfying experience, but it's important to do it safely.

This includes being aware of how exposure to asbestos in old building materials can put you and your family at risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases. In a post last year, we discussed tips for protecting against asbestos exposure when renovating an older home.

In today's post, we will provide some comparative context for these concerns. We'll do this by discussing the issue of asbestos exposure during do-it-yourself (DIY) home projects in Australia.