Blog Topic

Job Suspension

As you can see, the Denver Nuggets superstar forward, Carmello Anthony was suspended for the first two games of next season for being charged with (and apparently pleaing guilty to) DUI. (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/nuggets/2008-06-23-carmelo-suspension_N.htm) This article got me thinking that, as lawyers, we tend to focus on the criminal and civil penalties associated with DUI in Alabama. When we're caught up in defending a client on a questionable DUI charge, it's sometimes easy to forget that many clients most pressing concern is how his or her employer will react to a DUI on an employee's record.

Unless you're a superstar NBA forward, there's a high likelihood that you could face a much more harsh consequence than a two game suspension. In the worst of circumstances, you could loose your job and even have trouble finding a new one. If you're in such a situation, that's one more reason to hire an attorney, and more importantly one that will not be afraid to take your case to trial if a prosecutor, municipality or county is unreasonable with first time offenders, especially in a case with evidentiary problems. In many instances, a prosecutor's willingness to be fair has a direct correlation to whether an accused party has an attorney that is not afraid to try the case!

Barkley May Need a Job; How 'Bout Governor?
Posted by: Zach Peagler
January 10, 2009

According to tmz.com (http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/09/barkleys-dui-means-hes-mia-from-tnt/) and countless other internet and print media sources, Charles Barkley is taking a "leave of absence" from his post as an analyst for TNT's NBA studio crew. It was revealed earlier this week that Barkley's Blood Alcohol Level was .149, nearly twice the legal limit in Arizona. Even though a conviction is still pending (remember the whole innocent until proven guilty thing?), I suppose TNT's hands were tied with regard to suspending Barkley from his job. The publicity of this DUI charge has been extraordinary, and the outcry for Sir Charles to "pay his dues" would have been more severe had TNT not acted quickly.

I will certainly be an interested spectator as the rest of the legal proceedings unfold. I feel sure that Barkley has hired a very experienced attorney in Phoenix and it will be interesting to see if another sports hero from the state of Alabama can craft a legal defense that will allow for an acquittal despite already being found guilty in the "Court of Public Opinion." (See: "The Snake Slips Through the Hands of Justice?" - http://www.alabamaduiblog.com/.) Stay tuned for updates on how that turns out...

In the mean time, Barkley may be looking for employment beyond the small screen. His longtime suspected aspirations of running for governor have taken another blow. The gambling and drinking may be too much for him to overcome if he truly aspires to obtain the office of governor... but I somehow doubt it. Maybe he could start his political career by taking a run at the mayor's office in Birmingham. We should have a vacancy in the near future (http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/12/birmingham_mayor_larry_langfor_15.html).

Drive Safe,

Zach

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Job Suspension
Posted by: Zach Peagler
June 29, 2008

Unless you're a superstar NBA forward, there's a high likelihood that you could face a much more harsh consequence than a two game suspension. In the worst of circumstances, you could lose your job and even have trouble finding a new one. If you're in such a situation, that's one more reason to hire an attorney, and more importantly one that will not be afraid to take your case to trial if a prosecutor, municipality or county is unreasonable with first time offenders, especially in a case with evidentiary problems. In many instances, a prosecutor's willingness to be fair has a direct correlation to whether an accused party has an attorney that is not afraid to try the case!

Drive safe,

Zach

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