Reinstated

• Georgia lawyer Heather Renee Hicks
• Mississippi lawyer Carlos Eugene Moore
• Shelby County lawyer Aaron Michael Connolly Nutting
• Knox County lawyer Carey Davis Patin

Disbarred

The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Maury County lawyer Amanda Howell Castillo from the practice of law on Jan. 7 and ordered her to pay restitution to one former client. Based on two complaints, the court found that Castillo failed to represent a client in a diligent manner, reasonably communicate with a client, expedite a client’s litigation, comply with an order of summary suspension, respond to disciplinary complaints, and inform a client of her suspension from the practice of law and withdraw from representation. The court also found that in the second complaint, Castillo failed to set her client’s case for hearing, provide the professional services for which she was retained and return an unreasonable fee to the client. The court determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4(c), 8.1(b) and 8.4(g).

Suspended

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Sullivan County lawyer Ricky A. W. Curtis from the practice of law on Jan. 22. The court took the action after determining that Curtis failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning one complaint of misconduct. He is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Feb. 21. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7 suspended Davidson County lawyer Mickie Smith Daugherty from the practice of law for six years, retroactive to Aug. 20, 2024. The suspension is conditioned on Daugherty’s cooperation with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) and compliance with terms and conditions imposed by the Maury County Circuit Court. On Sept. 3, 2024, Daugherty pled guilty to one count of theft of property and one count of forgery, both Class C felonies, and was ordered to pay restitution of $35,000 to Culleoka Athletic Booster Club. She received judicial diversion and was placed on probation for a period of four years and six months. Daugherty paid full restitution before she was sentenced. She agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging her conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional 8.4(c).

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Rutherford County lawyer Dalen L. P. Farmer from the practice of law on Jan. 22. The court took the action after determining that Farmer failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning one complaint of misconduct. He is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Feb. 21. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

Censured

Rhea County lawyer Carol Ann Barron was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 14. Barron is a notary public, and she needed to notarize her client’s signatures in a transfer of property. Her notary stamp was not in her office, but her assistant is also a notary. Barron received permission to use the assistant’s notary stamp, and Barron then notarized the signatures of her clients by signing the assistant’s name and using the assistant’s notary stamp on a deed. She did not indicate that she was signing someone else’s name “with permission.” The court found that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 4.1 and 8.4(c).

Troy Lee Bowlin II, an attorney in Knox County, was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 14. Bowlin was hired by a Virginia resident for a potential dispute in Virginia though he is not licensed to practice law in Virginia. The court found that Bowlin failed to respond to inquiries from the client, and a few months later, his office prepared a pro se pleading for the client to file in Virginia. He also was found to have called opposing counsel to ask for a continuance, and gave the client advice about the Virginia filing. The court determined that these actions violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16 and 5.5.

Knox County lawyer Bret Philip Bryce received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7. The court found that Bryce failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, failed to communicate with his client about the representation, and failed to comply with a court order. These actions were determined to be prejudicial to the administration of justice, to cause a delay in the case for over nine months and to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 3.2 and 8.4.

Shelby County lawyer Curtis Douglas Johnson received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7. In representing a client in a bankruptcy matter, the court found that Johnson failed to communicate with his client and failed to respond to multiple requests for information, violating Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4.

Shelby County lawyer Brian Wade Lynn received a censure on Jan. 6 from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Lynn’s law license was administratively suspended on March 5, 2025, for non-payment of his professional privilege tax, and he has not sought reinstatement of his license. The court found that at the time of the administrative suspension, Lynn was counsel of record in 14 bankruptcy cases, and that after receiving the suspension, he filed two notices in one of his bankruptcy cases. The court found that he also significantly delayed providing notice to his clients of the administrative suspension, withdrawing as counsel of record, and complying with other obligations. The court determined that Lynn violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16(d), 3.4(c) and 8.4(d).

Jason Scott Mangrum, a lawyer in Williamson County, received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7. Following the residential foreclosure of and service of a detainer warrant upon an individual, Mangrum represented the person in an action for wrongful foreclosure and breach of contract. The court found that Mangrum improperly included in the complaint a claim that the opposing party’s actions constituted deceptive business practices permitting treble damages under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which under Tennessee law does not apply in foreclosure proceedings. The court determined that the claim had no merit and misrepresented to the client what recovery they might receive. In negotiations, Mangrum suggested a settlement offer to his client that he issued to opposing counsel but later asserted that the offer was grossly excessive in light of the facts and applicable law. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 3.1 and 8.4(d).

Sumner County lawyer Lee Wilson McDougal received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 7. McDougal was appointed counsel to a parent in a dependency and neglect juvenile proceeding involving allegations of severe abuse. Following the adjudicatory hearing, McDougal complied with the client’s request to file a de novo appeal but failed to inform his client of the court’s adjudication and final disposition. The court also found that he failed for 10 months to consult with his client about the appeal, failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the appeal status, and failed to comply with the client’s requests for documents. After the client requested that he withdraw from representation, McDougal delayed withdrawal for at least four months according to the court. These actions were determined to pose substantial potential harm to the client and to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16 and 8.4(d).

Hardin County Lawyer Nicholas Lee Surratt was censured Jan. 6 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Surratt agreed to represent a client in transmitting a demand letter in connection with a contract dispute. The client paid a $350 fee for drafting and transmittal of the demand letter. The court found that Surratt never drafted the demand letter, took no other action for the client, failed to respond to the client’s inquiries about the status of the representation and never refunded the $350 fee. The court determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 and 1.16(d). It also directed Surratt to pay restitution of $350 to his client within 60 days.

Administrative Suspensions

Notice of attorneys suspended for, and reinstated from, administrative violations — including failure to pay the Board of Professional Responsibility licensing and inactive fees, file the required IOLTA report, comply with continuing legal education requirements, and pay the Tennessee professional privilege tax — is on the TBA website at www.tba.org/administrative_suspensions.

TENNESSEE LAWYERS’ FUND FOR CLIENT PROTECTION

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases also are posted online at tlfcp.tn.gov/news.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection recently paid two claims:

• $2,040.78 on behalf of Christopher Shawn Roberts
• $5,000 on behalf of Francis Xavier Santore Jr. |||