TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 10, 2019

Franklin County lawyer Russell Lee Leonard was censured today for violating Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2 and 8.4(d). The court found that after representing three clients in a dispute against a real estate agent they claimed was working without a license, Leonard filed a complaint with the Tennessee Real Estate Commission about the realtor. However, he filed the complaint in the names of his clients, not his own, and without their knowledge. He also included a cover letter stating the clients asked him to file the complaint, which they had not. After being fined by the commission, the realtor sued Leonard and his clients, alleging they violated a settlement agreement previously signed. The court agreed and directed the four to reimburse the realtor the cost of his fine and attorney’s fees.