Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella, PC
Providing legal counsel in the areas of law that impact lives and livelihoods.
Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella, PC
Providing legal counsel in the areas of law that impact lives and livelihoods.We work to prevent problems, and we help solve the problems that can’t be prevented.
Our appellate practice team is among Tennessee’s most experienced and most successful.
Lawyers with extensive trial experience in Tennessee’s state and federal courts.
Focused advice for the particular needs of government agencies and non-profits.
We help Tennessee’s families and businesses plan for and navigate the changes that life brings.
If you’ve been hurt—from a car wreck, a fall, a medical procedure, or an accident—we can help.
Margaret Behm Featured in Tennessean Article: “They’re trailblazers in their own right, and they’re dedicated to telling the story of women’s suffrage in Tennessee.”
Margaret Behm was featured in a Tennessean article over the weekend, alongside Jeanie Nelson and Juli Mosley. The article spotlights the efforts these women have undertaken in their careers to break through the glass ceiling and create opportunities for other women to do the same. It also discusses the Votes for Women Project, set to become a permanent exhibit at the Nashville Public Library, envisioned by Behm, Nelson, and Mosely. This article comes the day after Mayor David Briley announced the creation of the Mayor’s Council on the State of Women, to which Behm was named.
Click here to read the Tennessean article.
Harlan Dodson To Lead Family Finances Presentation at KraftCPAs Event
Harlan Dodson will discuss options and important considerations for handling family finances after the loss of a loved one at a seminar hosted by KraftCPAs PLLC on August 27, 2019. For more information, or to register for this free seminar, click here.
Seven Dodson Parker Attorneys Named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2020; 17 Firm Practice Areas Represented
Seven lawyers from the firm were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020. The attorneys are recognized for their work in 17 practice areas.
Margaret Behm is recognized in the following areas:
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- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Employment Law – Individuals
- Employment Law – Management
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Municipal Law
- Nonprofit / Charities Law
Michael Bressman is recognized for his work in Art Law, Information Technology Law, and Trademark Law.
Donald Capparella has been named 2020 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. He is also recognized in the areas of Appellate Practice and Insurance Law.
Miranda R. Christy is recognized for her work in Real Estate Law.
Harlan Dodson is recognized his work in the following categories:
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- Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
- Corporate Law
- Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- Nonprofit / Charities Law
- Real Estate Law
- Trusts and Estates
Paul Parker is recognized for his work in the area of Trusts and Estates.
Tyler C. Yarbro, is recognized for her work in Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor & Employment.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 36,000 leading attorneys cast almost 4.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
Donald Capparella Secures Corrections to Alimony Judgments in the Court of Appeals
Donald Capparella recently argued two cases before the Court of Appeals seeking review of alimony awards.
In one case, the trial court reduced Husband’s alimony obligation due to a disability that occurred after the divorce was final. Capparella asked the appellate court to reverse the trial court’s order because the Husband’s disability did not actually affect his net income. The Court of Appeals agreed, restoring Wife’s original award of alimony and ordering Husband to pay Wife’s attorney fees at the trial and appellate levels, as well as arrearages for unpaid alimony.
In the other case, the Husband was ordered to pay alimony based on the needs of the Wife, so that she could continue living a similar lifestyle to the one she enjoyed during the marriage. The trial court found that Wife was capable of earning an income, but did not include this finding when calculating the amount of alimony to be paid. Capparella asked the appellate court to consider the earning capabilities of Wife when determining the amount of alimony that should be ordered. The Court of Appeals adopted Capparella’s argument and reduced Husband’s alimony obligation by the amount of Wife’s income capability.
In both cases the Court of Appeals agreed with Capparella and his clients were awarded the relief they sought. You can read more information about these two cases in the Dodson Parker Law Blog.
Capparella Secures Breach of Contract Win and Order of Specific Performance on Appeal
Donald Capparella recently secured a win for his client, a restaurant owner who had entered into an agreement to purchase the property she had leased for many years. The owner of the property entered into a contract to sell but then refused to allow closing to proceed. The trial court determined that the contract was valid and ordered that property owner be required to sell. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s determination that the sale should proceed. Capparella was engaged to represent the restaurant owner on appeal. The Court of Appeals opinion can be read in its entirety here.
