Houston & Alexander's online newsletter for August and September 2017
TNDUIATTORNEY.COM
AUG/SEPT 2017
CALL US: 423-267-6715
DEFENSE DOCKET
JOINING FORCES MY PATH TO H&A STARTED ON THE HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAM
I have plenty of stories from that period of my career, but the main thing I took away is a stronger background in federal law and how the public defense system works. It also gave me thick skin. After seeing what I saw, nothing really shocks me anymore. In the end, the environment wasn’t the best place for my wife and I to raise our growing family. We came home to Chattanooga, where I worked as a gang prosecutor before accepting a job as in-house legal counsel for LifeCare, the nation’s largest private nursing home company. That job was invaluable because it gave me an 80,000-foot view of how nursing home case law was developing all over the country. Now I deal with nursing home cases on a regular basis. After all that experience, I had a desire to settle down and practice the type of law I really enjoy. The next step? Join forces with a former opponent and friend. That’s how I got to Houston & Alexander. With our intimate knowledge of criminal justice, we know when the DA is offering a fair deal and when he isn’t. We can help people find better outcomes, not because of any magic we do, but because we’re diligent and we know from experience what’s possible and what’s not. If you can’t tell from my career path, I’ll say it. I love my job. I enjoy dealing with people, eyeball to eyeball, and holding them accountable. I enjoy it for more than the money. When I come into the office every day, I just never know what’s going to land on my desk. 1 423-267-6715 | TNDUIAttorney.com “Johnny defended two cases I prosecuted, and we came to respect each other’s work.” –Bret Alexander
In the last few issues, you’ve learned about the Houston half of this law firm. Johnny and I agreed that it would be good for me to share a bit of my story and talk about how we started as opponents, grew to be friends, and — eventually — became legal partners. My path to legal practice began in high school on the school’s mock trial team. A local attorney coached the team and became a mentor to me. Eventually he helped me secure the Wilkin’s Scholar award for University of Sewanee — an award that he had received 10 years earlier. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to become a lawyer. After getting my law degree at the University of Texas and moving back to Chattanooga, it was hard to get to trial as a 25-year-old lawyer. So when the opportunity came to work at the district attorney’s office, I took it. From then on, the jobs I took had little to do with the money. I never wanted to be the lawyer who sits in a corporate office all day and lets the money pour in. I wanted to work the courtroom, like I had practiced since high school. I worked as a DUI prosecutor for the DA for three years. Johnny defended two cases I prosecuted, and we came to respect each other’s work. I liked how he handled himself in the courtroom, and after I left the DA’s office, we kept in touch. To continue work in the criminal prosecution sector, I took a position in Yuma, Arizona, to deal with border crimes committed at the federal level. I dealt with everything from felony immigration to heavy narcotics — once even a case about a load of 50 kilos of methamphetamine getting across the border.
Outstanding Attorney “I found myself in a difficult situation and was terrified because I had never been in trouble before in my life. After calling Johnny, he immediately took time out of his busy schedule and allowed me to come in for a consultation. I was terrified at first, but I was relieved after speaking with Johnny. He and his staff made me feel at home, and he treated me as a friend, not just a client. After my consultation, Johnny kept in touch on a regular basis and made sure that I wasn’t too stressed until my court date. Everything was dismissed. Johnny went out of his way to help me. I couldn’t have asked for a better attorney, and I am very thankful for Johnny and his help. Without a doubt, he and his staff are the best! If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need the best, there is no one better for the job! Thank you, Johnny!” - Reese Simply the Best “I had a bad day in Tennessee one morning. I had never been in trouble in my life — or ever been detained for anything. Needless to say, I was terrified. My career was in jeopardy; my record Moving can be a stressful experience. Buying or renting a home is expensive enough. Between the down payment or deposit and the cost of movers, the grand total can be overwhelming. However, with these tips, you can cut down on your moving costs. LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD One of the easiest ways to save money and time during your move is by selling and donating unused items in your home. And packing up and moving is so much easier when you have less stuff! “Take your upcoming move as an opportunity to make a little extra spending money when you’re decluttering your home,” says Linda Descano, women and money expert from Citibank’s Women & Co. An easy way to sell your unused items is by posting ads for them on eBay, Craigslist, or Letgo. GET YOUR MOVING SUPPLIES FOR CHEAP Social media can be a great tool for getting your moving supplies for free. Make a post on your social media accounts, asking for boxes and other moving supplies. People often have extras lying around. Also, local stores will often let you have their extra boxes for free. Liquor stores, in particular, have small and sturdy boxes, which are great for moving books and breakables. You can also score big boxes for framed art and mirrors at bike, grocery, and photocopy stores. If you call ahead of time, they will often keep boxes intact for you. Also, start collecting boxes a couple of weeks ahead of time — you can never start too early! Move on the Cheap
Tips and Tricks to Make Your Move Less Stressful
TAX DEDUCTION If you’re moving more than 50 miles away, you can save your receipts for a tax deduction, says Adrian Nazari, CEO of credit and load website creditsesame.com. But you have to keep a few things in mind. In order to receive tax deductions, your move must be job related, and accepting the job would have had to increase your commute by more than 50 miles if you had decided not to move. You also must be employed full time for at least 39 weeks during the 12-month period after you move. Lastly, your employer must not be covering your moving expenses. It’s true; moving can be stressful and expensive. However, following the tips above can not only save you time and effort, they can also save you a good chunk of change.
Client Testimonial
was doomed; and I was generally hopeless. I met Johnny the next day, and he dropped what he was doing to consult me and review my charges. I knew after the first phone call that I had contacted the man for the job. Sitting with him during the consultation, I immediately felt a sense of relief and ease. The two months between consultation and my court date were filled with sleepless nights and a feeling of disgust with myself. Johnny worked hard and navigated this situation with a ferocious work ethic and strategy. The outcome was total dismissal! Johnny Houston felt like he was not only a professional partner in my life, but also a friend. His down-to-earth approach couldn’t have been more comforting in such a time of great stress and uncertainty. In the court room, you could tell that he had the respect of everyone present. The other attorneys, the law enforcement, and the court staff all treated him with high regard. I had always had a not-so-great opinion of attorneys and a wary opinion of the field. Not so here. Should you ever find yourself in a life situation where you need the best, there is only one option: Johnny Houston and his entire staff. Never consider another. If I could give him 50 stars, I would. Thanks, Johnny!” - Anonymous
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Fatality and False Positives What You Need to Know
Fatal accidents happen every day in Tennessee, but what are the real causes of these crashes? There may be many factors: both drivers making mistakes, poor weather conditions, or even medical problems. In any case, fatal crashes are a tragedy, and the effect on people’s lives is profound. Drivers facing DUI charges are usually in hot water. They can face up to a year in prison and around $4,900 in fees, fines, and penalties — not to mention they could lose their license for a year. That’s enough to wreak havoc on your life, but it’s even worse if the accident resulted in a fatality. Depending on your blood alcohol content (BAC) when the fatality occurred, the charge can be upgraded or reduced. If your BAC is between 0.08 and 0.20 percent, you will face vehicular homicide charges, which could result in a prison sentence of between eight and 30 years. You will likely lose your license for at least three years.
If the BAC is greater than 0.20, you’re looking at an aggravated vehicular assault while driving intoxicated charge, which is a class A felony. The jail time becomes 15–60 years with fines as much as $50,000! Investigators are usually thorough, but there are a number of factors that could contribute to a false DUI after a crash. Perhaps you sustained a head injury that caused symptoms similar to being drunk, like slurred speech and disorientation. Similarly, medical conditions like diagnosed diabetes could result in the same misinterpretation. If you or someone you love is involved in a fatal car crash that allegedly involved alcohol, you need to speak with an experienced Tennessee criminal defense attorney right away. Speaking to law enforcement or taking a plea deal without an attorney after a major crash is a mistake. An experienced attorney will examine the evidence and provide you with options for defense.
Grilled Mexican Street Corn Make the most of these remaining summer weeks and take dinner outside to the grill! You don’t need to visit the fair for this delicious, classic street food.
• ¼ cup mayonnaise • ¼ cup sour cream • ½ cup finely crumbled feta cheese • ½ teaspoon chili powder Ingredients Directions 1. Set burners of gas grill to high heat and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. 2. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, cheese, chili
Recipe inspired by seriouseats.com .
• 1 medium clove garlic, minced • ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro leaves • 4 ears corn, shucked • 1 lime, cut into wedges
charred in spots on all sides, for about 8 minutes.
4. Transfer corn to bowl
with cheese mixture and use large spoon to evenly coat each ear on all sides. Sprinkle with extra cheese and chili powder and serve immediately with lime wedges.
powder, garlic, and cilantro in large bowl. Stir until well- combined and set aside.
3. Place corn on hot grill,
rotating occasionally. Grill until cooked through and
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TNDUIAttorney.com CALL US: 423-267-6715
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
PAGE 1
From Mock Trial to Courtroom Lawyer
PAGE 2
Cut Down on the Cost of Moving
PAGE 2
Client Testimonial
PAGE 3
Fatality and False Positives
PAGE 3
Grilled Mexican Street Corn
PAGE 4
Ignorance Is Bliss … Is It Healthy?
It’s nearly impossible to log on to social media or turn on the TV without seeing something distressing. Instead of dwelling on what’s troubling, let’s focus on how to protect our mental health. The Psychology of Bad News A study by Psychology Today found that people who watch negative news feel worse about pre-existing worries than people who watch happy or neutral events. That means people watching the news don’t just feel anxious about the world — they feel more anxious about their own lives. British psychologist Dr. Graham Davey, who specializes in the effects of media violence, says negative news can affect how you interact with the world around you. As you consume threatening news, you’re more likely to spot threats in your day-to-day activities that aren’t there, which leads to anxiety. Why Is the News So Negative? As news media revenue goes down and people become desensitized, news organizations feel the pressure to show emotionally relevant material such as crime and accidents. At a basic level, for something to be “newsworthy” — negative or not — it needs to be the exception to the rule, not the norm. That means watching the news might give you an inaccurate view of what daily life is like in the world. The Effects of Negative News
They Say Ignorance Is Bliss … But Is It Healthy?
How to Fight the Negativity It’s important to understand important issues of the day. But when the news becomes too much, psychologists encourage you to take a break with some good news — or no news at all. Advances in medicine and technology happen all the time! Seek out those stories, or take a break from news altogether. That’s when no news can become good news.
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