TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 13, 2020

Davidson County lawyer Scott David Johannessen received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday. The court found that Johannessen violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7, 8.4(d) and 1.1. As the sole member of a limited liability company that was a member of another company called FYI, Johannessen was appointed as the attorney for FYI for particular issues. He then hired an attorney and filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against FYI. The next day, he filed a notice of appearance in the bankruptcy proceeding as a pro se creditor, alleging FYI owed him personally. The court found that these action created a significant risk that representation of his client would be materially limited by his interest as sole member of the other company and by his personal interest as a creditor against FYI.