Tommy Santel
Tommy Santel is a co-founding partner of Santel | Garner, PLLC. Mr. Santel’s practice includes civil litigation in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, mediation, handling claims within the special investigative unit for insurance companies, and criminal defense. He is listed as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator and is the Executive Committee Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Section for the Tennessee Bar Association.
Mr. Santel is a former government prosecutor and has a background prosecuting and defending criminal cases. Mr. Santel has represented individuals and governmental entities in tort, civil rights, contract, and employment claims, and property disputes.
In his almost 20 years of practice, Mr. Santel has tried numerous bench and jury trials in civil and criminal courts. He has successfully argued cases before the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Mr. Santel was co-lead counsel representing numerous individuals and businesses in “Operation Candy Crush” where a local government shut down numerous businesses for the alleged illegal sale of CBD. He is also admitted to practice in federal court in the Middle and Eastern District of Tennessee.
SuperLawyers has repeatedly named Mr. Santel as a “Rising Star” and “SuperLawyer.” Mr. Santel is a frequent lecturer on topics that include mediation and civil litigation. He has written articles for publication for the Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Santel has served on a number of Tennessee Bar Association committees and boards including the Dispute Resolution Section, the Criminal Law Section, the Mock Trial Committee, and the Young Lawyers Division. Mr. Santel is a past chairman of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Continuing Legal Education Committee. He is a past president of the Rutherford County and Cannon County Bar Association.
Mr. Santel is a 2000 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and 2004 graduate of the Nashville School of Law.
Credentials
Education
- Nashville School of Law, J.D., 2004
- Middle Tennessee State University, B.S., 2000
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee
- U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee
- U.S. District Court of East Tennessee
Professional Associations
- Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Representative Matters
- Successfully defended a governmental entity and department head in matters involving complex property dispute.
- Successfully defended multiple businesses accused of selling illegal substances and being shut down by government.
- Successfully defended a matter at the Court of Criminal Appeals where Appellate Court overturned jury verdict and sentence and remanded for new trial.
- Assisted client in personal injury matter in reaching $850,000.00 settlement.
- Assisted client in personal injury matter in reaching $240,000.00 settlement.
Community Involvement
- Candle Wishes
- Murfreesboro Baseball Association Coach