General Archives - Patterson Bray

August 18, 2023 In Civil Litigation, General, Personal Injury

The 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes Patterson Bray Attorneys

Patterson Bray is pleased to announce that attorneys Chris Patterson, Lindsay Jones, Larry Bray, Austin Rainey, and Will Patterson were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 30^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. This is the third consecutive year that all of these attorneys have been recognized.

Chris Patterson was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation & Municipal Law.

Lindsay Jones was recognized for her high caliber of work in the practice areas of Trusts and Estates & Litigation – Trusts and Estates.

Larry Bray was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice area of Trusts and Estates.

AUSTIN T. RAINEY Austin Rainey was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation & Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Will Patterson was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation & Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.

For more than four decades, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both lawyers and the public – as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. As such, recognition by Best Lawyers symbolizes excellence in practice.

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 13.7 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. Best Lawyers’ founding principle remains unchanged and forms the basis of their methodology: The best lawyers know who the best lawyers are, and attorneys do not pay to participate or be recognized. Best Lawyers lists are published in top-tier business and legal publications such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

For more information, check out the Best Lawyers website.

January 12, 2022 In General

Wiseman Bray becomes Patterson Bray

New Name, Continued Excellence on Your Behalf

The former law offices of Wiseman Bray Attorneys are proud to announce a new name, Patterson Bray PLLC, effective January 12, 2022. This name does not reflect a change in our management or services, rather it serves as recognition of the continuity of management structure and strategic problem solving that we’ve used to service our clients for many years.

In 2019, then partner Lang Wiseman took a position with the Governor’s office in Nashville, officially severing ties with the firm. While the Wiseman name remained on the masthead, Chris Patterson became the managing partner, leading the firm alongside Lindsay Jones and Larry Bray. This management structure has successfully served our many clients in Wealth and Probate, Personal Injury, Business and Commercial, Family Law, and many other practice areas.

As we move into year three of this structure, we are formalizing the change while also committing to our promise of strategic insight and representation, personal service and attention, and aggressive advocacy on behalf of our clients. We look forward to serving you and your legal needs as Patterson Bray PLLC.

August 24, 2021 In Civil Litigation, General, Personal Injury

The 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes Patterson Bray Attorneys

Patterson Bray is pleased to announce that attorneys Austin Rainey and Will Patterson were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 28^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. This is the second consecutive year that Austin Rainey and Will Patterson were recognized by Best Lawyers.

AUSTIN T. RAINEY Austin Rainey was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Will Patterson was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation & Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.

For more than three decades, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both lawyers and the public – as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. As such, Lindsay and Will’s recognition by Best Lawyers symbolizes excellence in practice.

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 9.4 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. Best Lawyers’ founding principle remains unchanged and forms the basis of their methodology: The best lawyers know who the best lawyers are, and attorneys do not pay to participate or be recognized. Best Lawyers lists are published in top-tier business and legal publications such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

For more information, check out the Best Lawyers website.

July 9, 2021 In General, Personal Injury

Best Lawyers: The Injury & Malpractice Issue 2021® Recognizes Attorney Austin Rainey

AUSTIN T. RAINEY

Patterson Bray is pleased to announce that attorney Austin Rainey was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers: The Injury & Malpractice Issue 2021®.

Best Lawyers®, the oldest and most respected guide to the legal profession, released the inaugural edition of The Injury and Malpractice Issue.

Using information excerpted from the 2021 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America^© and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, this digital-only publication features more than 7,000 lawyers, including more than 300 “Lawyer of the Year” honorees and 500 “Ones to Watch” award recipients, recognized for their top legal talent in injury and malpractice-related practice areas. Practice areas included in The Injury and Malpractice Issue are:

Consumer Protection Law
Legal Malpractice Law
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions
Medical Malpractice Law
Personal Injury Litigation
Product Liability Litigation
Professional Malpractice Law

In addition to the list of recognized lawyers, the publication includes injury and malpractice-focused editorial content. Featured articles highlight the danger of faulty product design, the risk of electronic medical records being altered, the hazards of neglected infrastructure, the risk that unlicensed hair stylists pose to the cosmetology industry, the efforts the federal government is taking to stop robocalls and more.

“For almost four decades, Best Lawyers has highlighted the exceptional achievements of those in the legal industry. We are proud to continuously present the most reliable, unbiased legal referrals worldwide,” says Best Lawyers CEO Phil Greer.

Check out the digital edition of Best Lawyers: The Injury & Malpractice Issue 2021® here!

April 27, 2021 In General

Chris Patterson Appointed to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees

shooting victim attorney

Patterson Bray is pleased to announce that Chris Patterson has been appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee to a term that expires on June 30, 2026.

Chris Patterson is the managing partner of Patterson Bray, where he has worked for sixteen years; with a practice focused on business litigation and municipal law, he represents numerous cities and governmental entities across West Tennessee. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee and received his legal degree from the University of Memphis.

On April 5, 2021, after Mr. Patterson had confirmation hearings in House and Senate committees, the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Tennessee Senate unanimously approved his appointment to the board. For more information on the General Assembly’s approval of Mr. Patterson’s appointment, click here. For more information about the Board of Trustees, click here.

January 20, 2021 In Civil Litigation, Estate Planning, General

The 27th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes Attorneys Lindsay Jones and Will Patterson

Patterson Bray is pleased to announce that attorneys Lindsay Jones and Will Patterson were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 27^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

probate lawyer in memphis Lindsay Jones was recognized for her high caliber of work in the practice areas of Trusts and Estates and Litigation- Trusts and Estates.

Will Patterson was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice area of Commercial Litigation.

For more information, check out the Best Lawyers website.

October 26, 2020 In General, Personal Injury

The 27th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes Attorneys Chris Patterson and Austin Rainey

Patterson Bray is pleased to announce that attorneys Chris Patterson and Austin Rainey were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 27^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

shooting victim attorney Chris Patterson was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Municipal Law.

AUSTIN T. RAINEY Austin Rainey was recognized for his high caliber of work in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

For more than three decades, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both lawyers and the public – as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. As such, Chris and Austin’s recognition by Best Lawyers symbolizes excellence in practice.

For more information, check out the Best Lawyers website, and Mr. Austin Rainey’s profile.

October 1, 2018 In General

Free money! (Seriously, it’s true!)

Free money

Literally millions of dollars in unclaimed money gets deposited with the State each year. And some it may have your name on it:

an old utility deposit you forgot about
a lease deposit that was never refunded
a mileage check from an old job that never got cut

This is referred to as “unclaimed property,” and by law the holder of the funds property must turn it over the State along with information about the name last know address of the owner. They CANNOT keep the property, but turning it over to the State allows them to avoid the hassle of having to track you down.

The good news: the state has a website where you can do a simple name search and then claim your property at no cost to you. Try it out — enter your name, your family members’ names, friends, etc. We’ve had plenty of friends and clients who’ve found a few hundred dollars here and there. Give it a shot and then use the comment section to let us know if you get lucky. And hit the Retweet or Share button to let your friends know to try their luck.

[Many states maintain similar sites, so be sure to Google and check out any sites for other places you may have lived or worked in the past.]

August 31, 2018 In Estate Planning, General

No estate plan: a lesson from the extraordinary life of Aretha Franklin

It’s been widely reported that Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul, died without any sort of Estate Plan leaving many people wondering: “Why would someone so successful not have a financial plan in place?” We should all pause and THINK about what we’re trying to do with our assets after death.

Unfortunately, it is fairly common for people to die without even the simplest form of an Estate Plan. Even tremendously successful individuals like Prince and Aretha Franklin have made this mistake. While Prince and Aretha Franklin certainly have more complex financial affairs than most of us, Estate Plans are not just for rich people. In fact, a basic plan can be relatively inexpensive, especially when you consider the potential legal fees and costs which arise when there is no plan at all.

WHY HAVE A WILL OR ESTATE PLAN?

Whether we are meeting with potential clients or giving estate planning seminars, we always stress the importance of having an estate plan in place no matter how simple the plan might be. Even a simple Estate Plan gives your family guidance and allows them to R-E-S-P-E-C-T your wishes.

The only way you can be sure to “get what you want” is to properly (and legally) communicate your wishes. Simply telling someone won’t cut it. After all, neither a judge nor your family will be able to ask you after your death. Having a plan in place can also help prevent family fights. You may think your family would never fight over your assets after you die. You may be right, but you may also be wrong. There’s no good reason to take a chance. Make your wishes so clear that your family members have nothing to fight about after your death.

An Estate Plan is important irrespective of your financial situation. You do not have to be rich or famous to need a Will. Even if you think you don’t have enough assets to justify an Estate Plan, it is likely that your possessions have real meaning to family members or friends.

WHY PEOPLE DON’T HAVE A WILL OR ESTATE PLAN.

Typically, people put off planning because they are “too busy” or they simply do not want to think about their own mortality. Death can be an unpleasant topic. It is obviously an uncertain event which makes it is easy to put off and left for another today. However, death is an unfortunate reality for everyone. As such, we should all learn a lesson from Aretha Franklin’s mistake and plan ahead.

WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE DIES WITHOUT A WILL?

If you don’t have an Estate Plan or Will, your Estate may become subject to state law and Probate Court orders. This is likely to lead to family arguments and legal fees and costs, which in the end reduces the amount of assets remaining for your family members.

NEED A TENNESSEE ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER?

We work hard to make setting up your Estate Plan as easy as possible. Basic plans can be relatively inexpensive even though they are drafted with your specific needs and concerns in mind. If you do not have an Estate Plan or have not had your plan reviewed in a number of years, you need an Estate Planning lawyer Memphis trusts to guide you through the process.

Call Patterson Bray at 901-372-5003.

August 6, 2018 In Business Litigation, General

Non-compete agreements in Tennessee

Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Tennessee?

It depends. Generally speaking, non-compete agreements, also called ‘covenants not to compete’, are disfavored in Tennessee. See Hasty v. Rent-A-Driver, Inc., 671 S.W.2d 471 (Tenn. 1984). Courts interpret these agreements strictly in favor of the employee, in part because the agreement is a restraint on trade. Having said that, courts will uphold non-compete agreements if there is a legitimate business interest to be protected and the agreement sets reasonable time and territorial limitations. Id.

What makes a non-compete agreement reasonable?

When deciding whether a non-compete agreement is reasonable, Tennessee courts will consider the following relevant factors:

1. the consideration supporting the agreement;
2. the threatened danger to the employer in the absence of the agreement;
3. the economic hardship imposed on the employee by the agreement; and,
4. whether the agreement is against the public interest.

Additionally, the time and territorial limitations must be no greater than necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate business interest. In other words, a company cannot expect a court to uphold a non-compete agreement which purports to prevent an employee from ever taking a job with another company in the same general line of work.

Does the employer have a legitimate business interest which deserves protection?

Obviously, employers cannot restrain ordinary competition. Therefore, employers must show that without the non-compete agreement, the employee would gain an unfair advantage in future competition with the employer. Id.

Courts consider the following to determine whether an employee would have an unfair advantage:

1. whether the employer provided the employee with specialized training;
2. whether the employee is given access to trade or business secrets or other confidential information; and,
3. whether the employer’s customers tend to associate the employer’s business with the employee due to the employee’s repeated contacts with the customers on behalf of the employer.

Of course, an employer does not have a protectable interest in the general knowledge and skill of an employee. Id. However, an employer can typically prevent former employees from using its trade or business secrets or other confidential information in competition with the employer. While figuring out what constitutes a trade secret is generally easy, determining what constitutes confidential information can be much more difficult. Indeed, in one particular case, a Tennessee court held that customer lists, customer credit information, pricing information, and profit and loss statements did not constitute confidential information because such information is easily available from sources other than the employer. Id.

If you are an employee with a potential non-compete dispute or an employer looking to prevent unfair competition and/or protect confidential information from your competitors, you need a business litigation lawyer Memphis knows and trusts to handle the matter for you.

Call us today at 901.372.5003.