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Spurrell, Studer & Matney Law Group
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Personal Injury DUI Defense Criminal Defense Family Law Civil Litigation
Our Team
Don Spurrell Grace Studer Matt Matney Erica Mandi Darlene Jackson
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Our Track Record

Results

Verdicts, settlements, and courtroom victories across East Tennessee. Below you will find a selection of notable cases and media coverage representing the work of our attorneys.

By the Numbers

A Record Built in Courtrooms

Across personal injury, criminal defense, civil litigation, and family law.

100+
Jury Trials to Verdict
55+
Years Combined in Court
5×
Readers’ Choice Award Winner
State & Federal
Court Practice
Notable Cases

Cases That Made a Difference

A sampling of significant matters handled by the attorneys at Spurrell, Studer & Matney.

Civil Litigation · Anti-SLAPP

Laferney v. Livesay

Attorney: Grace Studer
Case Dismissed + Attorney’s Fees Awarded

A client was sued for speaking out publicly on a matter of public concern. Grace Studer moved to dismiss under Tennessee’s Public Participation Act (TPPA), the state’s anti-SLAPP statute. The court dismissed the lawsuit and awarded attorney’s fees to our client, putting an end to litigation designed to silence rather than to seek justice.

Criminal Defense · Appellate

State of Tennessee v. Lon Pierce

Attorney: Don Spurrell
Felony Murder Conviction Overturned • Life Sentence Vacated • Defendant Freed

Don Spurrell challenged a felony murder conviction and life sentence all the way to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Supreme Court overturned the conviction. The defendant was freed after a new trial. This case reflects Don’s commitment to pursuing justice long after the verdict when the conviction itself cannot stand.

Civil Rights · Settlement

Police Misconduct Settlement

Spurrell, Studer & Matney Law Group
$200,000+ Recovered

Our client suffered injuries and civil rights violations resulting from unlawful law enforcement conduct. Rather than accepting an early lowball offer, our attorneys pressed through to secure a settlement exceeding $200,000. Holding institutions accountable requires attorneys willing to take cases the distance. We are.

Criminal Defense · Capital Murder

State of Tennessee v. Roy Allen Ward

Attorney: Don Spurrell
Not Guilty

First-degree murder trial in which the state sought the death penalty. Don Spurrell took the case to verdict and won a not guilty. When the stakes are life and death, there is no margin for error. This outcome stands as one of the most significant of Don’s career.

Criminal Defense · Three Trials

State v. Perry Moore

Attorney: Don Spurrell
Not Guilty

An innocent man was tried three separate times for alleged shaken baby syndrome. Each time, Don Spurrell stood at counsel’s table and fought. The third trial ended with what should have come far sooner: a not guilty jury verdict.

Civil Rights · Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death: Washington County Sheriff

Attorney: Don Spurrell
Settled Successfully

A wrongful death claim brought against the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Holding a government entity accountable for a death requires thorough investigation and the credibility to press the case the distance. The matter resolved successfully for the client’s family.

Civil Rights · Jail Conditions

Prisoner Injury: Unicoi County Jail

Attorney: Don Spurrell
Settled Successfully

A client suffered serious injuries while in the custody of the Unicoi County Jail. We pursued the civil claim against the county and resolved the matter successfully. Individuals in government custody retain legal rights, and those rights are worth fighting for.

Civil Rights · Law Enforcement

Serious Injury: Unicoi County Deputy

Attorney: Don Spurrell
Settled Successfully • Important Legal Rulings

A client sustained serious injuries caused by the negligence of a Unicoi County deputy. The case settled successfully and produced important legal rulings with precedential value for similar cases going forward.

Criminal Defense · Federal Drug Conspiracy

Federal Drug Conspiracy Sentencing

Attorney: Grace Studer
Life Sentence Avoided • 24-Year Sentence

A young man faced serious federal drug conspiracy convictions with a sentencing guideline range of life in prison. The government argued for 35 years. Grace Studer secured a 24-year sentence, well below what the government sought and sparing him a life term.

Featured Case

The “Facebook Murders” Post-Conviction

Attorney: Grace Studer
High-Profile Post-Conviction Representation • National Media

This nationally publicized case involved two women convicted in connection with killings that drew widespread media attention across the country. Grace Studer took on their post-conviction representation and pursued every available avenue for relief, challenging the legal and factual basis of the convictions.

The case attracted full coverage from ABC’s 20/20, which aired a documentary episode examining the evidence, the trial, and the ongoing legal fight. Grace’s work in post-conviction defense demands the same preparation and tenacity as trial work. An unjust outcome is never truly final as long as there are valid legal issues to pursue.

WJHL provided in-depth local reporting on the closing arguments in the post-conviction proceedings, where attorneys argued for new trials on behalf of their clients.

Case At a Glance
Type
Post-Conviction Criminal Defense
Media Coverage
ABC 20/20 • WJHL • National Press
Attorney
Grace Studer
Significance
National profile. Complex post-conviction issues. Constitutional challenges.
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In the Press

Press Coverage

Local and national media coverage of matters handled by our attorneys.

WJHL • July 2021

Closing arguments: Attorneys for Potter women convicted of “Facebook Murders” want new trials

Grace Studer represented Jenelle Potter in post-conviction hearings seeking a new trial after Marvin “Buddy” Potter testified for the first time: “I committed the crime.” Studer argued his testimony was critical new evidence, and that under Tennessee’s criminal responsibility statute, the women could not have been convicted had the jury heard it. The defense also raised a conflict-of-interest claim against the original trial attorney.

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WJHL • July 2023

Ciia Hall, shot by police in 2021, accepting plea deal

Don Spurrell represented Ciia Hall, who was shot three times by police and charged with attempted second-degree murder after an incident involving a stolen vehicle. Spurrell secured a plea agreement with judicial diversion: if Hall stays out of trouble for two years, all charges will be expunged from his record. Spurrell publicly criticized the officers’ conduct as a violation of use-of-force policies and pushed for a federal investigation.

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WJHL • October 2015

Murder charge dropped in 2012 Elizabethton toddler death

Don Spurrell represented Tiffani Holston, who had been charged with first-degree murder after her four-year-old son Joshua ran in front of a dump truck in Elizabethton in 2012. After a second grand jury found insufficient evidence to support the charge, Spurrell filed a motion to dismiss. The state agreed, and the judge dismissed the case. “We are elated,” Spurrell said, calling the dismissal a reflection of the will of the public.

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As Seen on ABC 20/20

“Am I Next?”

ABC’s 20/20 aired a full documentary episode examining the Facebook Murders case, the convictions, and the ongoing fight for new trials. Grace Studer’s post-conviction work is featured as a central part of the story.

The cases described on this page are examples of significant matters handled by attorneys at Spurrell, Studer & Matney Law Group and are provided for informational purposes only. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases. Every legal matter is unique and depends on its own facts and circumstances. This page does not constitute legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by visiting this site.

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Whether you need trial representation, appellate work, or post-conviction relief, our attorneys bring the experience and commitment your case requires.

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