Greg Isaacs

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Gregory Paul Isaacs (born March 12, 1962) is an attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee. Isaacs is the lawyer for Ninety Day Fiancé reality personality Geoffrey Paschel. He represented juvenile defendants in the Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires arson case, and in the 2005 Campbell County High School shooting. He was the attorney for the family of Peter Lillelid in the international adoption case resulting from the triple homicide Lillelid murders. He also was an attorney for alleged serial killer Thomas Dee “Zoo Man” Huskey.

Early life

Isaacs was born in Dayton, Ohio, to Bill and Novella Isaacs, who both worked at General Motors. He graduated from West Carrollton High School in a suburb of Dayton. He earned undergraduate degrees with honors in history and political science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and attended law school there. Isaacs began practicing criminal defense law in Knoxville in 1988.

Career

Isaacs founded his firm in 1993. Notable cases that Isaacs worked on include the United States v. Foust, State of Tennessee v. Michael Frazier, and State of Tennessee v. Huskey. He has submitted a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court. He represented Thomas “Zoo Man” Huskey in a five-victim capital homicide case that resulted in two mistrials and a U.S. Court of Criminal Appeals opinion. He also helped change the Tennessee underage pornography statute in the case of the State of Tennessee v. Richard Butler by launching a challenge to its constitutionality.

Isaacs’ cases have been portrayed in true crime productions, including his work representing Michael Frazier in the “Love Triangle” case, which was the first Tennessee case covered by Court TV. He has provided legal analysis for cable networks, including Court TV and Oxygen network.

Notable Cases

The Love Triangle

In 1995, Isaacs represented Michael Frazier in what media called The Love Triangle case. Frazier, a former newspaper reporter, received a four-year sentence after being convicted of attempted murder against the husband of a woman Frazier had a relationship with while she was married. Case details have been preserved on a set of VHS tapes at the University of Tennessee, and the case would later be made into a true crime show episode for “American Monster” on Discovery+.

Lillelid murders

The Lillelid murders refer to a criminal case in Greene County, Tennessee, United States, where three members of the Lillelid family were murdered on April 6, 1997. Danish immigrant Vidar Lillelid (aged 34), Delfina Lillelid (aged 28), and their daughter Tabitha (aged 6), and son Peter (aged 2) were shot on a deserted rural road near Baileyton during a carjacking committed by a group of youths. Vidar and Delfina were found dead at the scene, and young Tabitha died after being transported to the hospital. Peter survived, but, as a result of the shooting, was left with permanent disabilities including the loss of an eye, hearing in one ear, and a bullet in his spine. Six young people from Kentucky, including two minors, were convicted of felony murder for the deaths of Vidar, Delfina and Tabitha Lillelid, with all six perpetrators receiving three life sentences, and an additional sentence of 25 years each for the attempted murder of Peter Lillelid. Isaacs represented the paternal family of Peter Lillelid. That case would later be used in other opinions issued by judges and other case law.

Thomas “Zoo Man” Huskey

In 1999, Isaacs was part of the legal team that helped Thomas Huskey avoid the death penalty when a mistrial was declared by Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner. Huskey allegedly raped and murdered prostitutes in East Knox County. His nickname stemmed from his former employment at the zoo. Isaacs relied on Huskey's multiple personalities as a defense.

Another attorney on the case, Herbert S. Moncier, would later say he was driven by the notion that the Constitution guaranteed that all men were entitled to a fair trial, adding that he believed Huskey received the same level of representation that O.J. Simpson received.

That case would later be added to the Caselaw Access Project at Harvard Law School and be studied by Psychology Today in the article “The Zoo Man Murders: An alleged serial killer who displayed four personas confused the jury.” The Knoxville News Sentinel also filed a legal opinion stating parts of the trial were entitled to review by the public, including financial costs incurred by the state since Huskey was an indigent accused.

Gatlinburg Wildfires

In November 2016, devastating wildfires spurred by historic drought and hurricane-force winds burned through Gatlinburg and Sevier County, Tennessee, resulting in the death of 14 people and damages of more than $500 million. Two juveniles were charged with arson related to a fire beginning in the Chimney Tops in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Isaacs Law Firm obtained dismissal of the state charges after identifying weaknesses in the proof and the inability of the State of Tennessee to establish jurisdiction over the purported acts.

State v. Norman Clark

The Isaacs Law Firm obtained a favorable result for Norman Clark in a high-profile double homicide case, which would be featured on Dateline NBC. Clark faced two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder related to the death of an ex-girlfriend and her unborn child. Following a contested trial, the jury ultimately was deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict, which resulted in a mistrial. Following a second mistrial by another counsel in 2017, the state decided to reexamine its options. In 2018, the Knox County Attorney General's Office decided to nolle prosequi the case against Clark, ending the prosecution.

United States v. Foust

This case was portrayed in the novel Dark and Bloody Ground. For the real-life events, Isaacs obtained a not guilty verdict for his client who was accused of laundering money obtained through a murder of a Kentucky physician and his teenage daughter.

Campbell County High School Shootings

The case of the State v. Kenneth “Little Kenny” Bartley involves a Campbell County youth who stood trial following a school shooting that resulted in the death of the school principal and injuries to two others. Bartley, 14 years old at the time, initially pled guilty to second-degree murder under the advice of his original attorney. On post-conviction review, Isaacs was successful in convincing the court that Bartley's initial counsel was ineffective and secured a new trial for Bartley. Following a subsequent jury trial, Isaacs obtained a jury verdict of reckless homicide, resulting in Bartley's immediate release after serving eight years in custody.

Ninety Day Fiancé Personality Geoffrey Paschel

Isaacs represented Geoffrey Paschel, part of a popular couple on the Ninety Day Fiancé reality program, after he was accused of kidnapping and domestic abuse. Isaacs continues to represent Paschel with his appeal to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

Tennessee State Legislator Joe Armstrong

The Isaacs Law Firm represented former state Rep. Joe Armstrong before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee regarding allegations of tax fraud. Armstrong, after a successful defense, was able to avoid incarceration.

Media Coverage

Isaacs has provided live and recorded analysis for local network television news affiliates and national cable television networks. He's also been the subject of news reports and articles across multiple media outlets covering legal issues and other topics.

Court TV

Isaacs began analysis with Court TV in 1995 after the Love Triangle case. Other appearances on live and recorded coverage:

• ’90 Day Fiancé star seeks new trial after ‘excessive’ 18-year sentence
• Travis Reinking analysis:
  • Presenting an insanity defense
  • Experts in defense and cross-examination
  • Sentencing, capital case enhancements and mental illness

WATE-TV

Isaacs has been a legal analyst for WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, since 1993. Segments include:

• Kyle Rittenhouse: Rittenhouse was acquitted of charges, and Isaacs weighed in on the outcome.
• Joel Guy Jr.: Joel Guy Jr. was convicted of the murder and dismemberment of his parents at their Knox County home in 2016 and received two consecutive life sentences in prison. Isaacs provided analysis to media on the case.
• Ask Isaacs: Legality of mask mandates at Tennessee
• Ask Isaacs: Sexual harassment in the workplace
• Ask Isaacs: Trying a murder case without a body
• Ask Isaacs: Looking at gun violence laws in Tennessee

Interviews

Isaacs in news coverage:

• Civil rights leader asks police to investigate use of his name, number in pro-Trump calls
• Like Paul Manafort, Greg Isaacs goes sockless in court, too
• Knoxville lawyer weighs in on trash throwing at Neyland Stadium
• Two Tennessee deputies charged with routine brutality want a trial by judge – not a jury
• F. Lee Bailey, attorney for O.J. Simpson, Patty Hearst dies; Knoxville attorney reflects on impact
• Gatlinburg still rebuilding 3 years after wildfires
• Greg Isaacs explains the disposition of charges against Alexis Johnson
• Greg Isaacs' castle ... is a place to enjoy family, friends, kick off his Guccis and relax

Recognition

• Best Lawyers in America's Best Lawyers 2017–2021; Lawyer of the Year 2021
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers – Criminal Defense National Trial Lawyers 2017-2021
• Top Attorney Cityview magazine 2016-2021
• AV Preeminent Rated Martindale-Hubbell 2004-2021

• Zoo Knoxville Board Member
• Governor Appointee to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission 2007-2012
• Past President Knoxville Nucleus
• Past Chair and board member of Knoxville Episcopal School
• Former Member of the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors
• University of Tennessee College of Law Adjunct
• Former Board Member of University of Tennessee College of Law Legal Clinic

Personal life

Isaacs and his wife, Melissa, also an attorney, have four children: Zachary, Jacob, Jared and Mary Grace. They live in Knoxville, Tennessee.

See Also

2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires

2005 Campbell County High School shooting

The University of Tennessee College of Law

Lillelid murders

Nashville Waffle House shooting

Nolle prosequi

Further reading

90 Day Fiancé's Geoffrey Paschel Sentenced to 18 Years for Kidnapping and Domestic Assault

Accused clerks make court appearances

New trial date set in 2008 murder of Knoxville waitress

Scott Co. doctor accused of fueling the drug crisis formally pleads guilty to distributing oxycodone

External links

• The Isaacs Law Firm

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