TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 12, 2022

Davidson County lawyer Charles Martin Duke received a public censure yesterday from the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that Duke violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4. While representing a client in probating an estate, a guardianship was created, which required that realty within the estate be sold and the proceeds deposited with the court. Through an inadvertent error, the proceeds were deposited into a bank account opened and maintained by the client. After becoming aware of the error, Duke failed to take proper action to facilitate the transfer of the funds to the court or to amend the guardianship. The court also found that Duke failed to maintain good communication with his client during the representation.