Williamson County attorney Eric Trygve Olson on Wednesday received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Olson was hired in September 2016 as in-house counsel, but did not complete his registration with the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners within 180 days of the start of his employment. In January 2019, on his application for comity admission to the Board of Law Examiners, Olson incorrectly stated that he had never registered as in-house counsel. In April 2019, he went to work as in-house counsel for a different company, but did not notify the BLE of his termination with the first company and did not register as in-house counsel within 180 days of the date the second employment began. A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorney’s ability to practice law.

Hamilton County lawyer Kent Thomas Jones received a censure yesterday from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Jones received a $2,000 flat fee for representing a client on a DUI. The client had signed a written fee agreement but the agreement did not state that the fee was nonrefundable. On the day of the client’s court date, Jones appeared late and was acting erratically. Court personnel removed him from the courthouse and he was charged with public intoxication, though the charges eventually were dropped. By email later that day, Jones agreed to provide a full refund of the fee. Two and a half years later, Jones has made three partial payments amounting to $1,650. The court directed him to pay the remaining $350 within 60 days. The court also found that Jones did not keep the fee in a trust account. His actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5, 1.15 and 8.4(b) and (d).

A number of lawyers were recently reinstated after being suspended for administrative violations. The group includes 12 who were reinstated after failing to pay the annual fee in 2017, 2019 or 2020; 11 who were reinstated after failing to comply with continuing legal education requirements in 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 or 2019; and seven who were reinstated after failing to pay professional taxes in 2018, 2019 or 2020. View all administrative suspensions and reinstatement lists here.

Williamson County lawyer Christopher D. Birkel was reinstated to the practice of law on June 25. He had been placed on inactive status in May 2009. California lawyer Tisha Leigh Morris was reinstated to the practice of law on June 24. She had been placed on inactive status in June 2013. On July 16, Sullivan County lawyer Kellye Lambert Walker was reinstated to the practice of law. She had been placed on inactive status in July 2012.

Washington County lawyer William E. McManus Jr. was disbarred from the practice of law on Friday. He consented to the action after acknowledging that he could not successfully defend himself against the charges filed against him. The state Supreme Court determined that McManus violated Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).

The Supreme Court of Tennessee yesterday suspended Davidson County lawyer Andrew Harrison Maloney for 18 months, with 10 months active and the remainder on probation. Maloney improperly used funds held in escrow for his business and personal use, failed to timely disburse funds owed to third-parties and failed to escheat certain funds to the State of Tennessee as required. During his probation, Maloney must engage the services of a practice monitor who will assess his case load and progress in disbursing funds to third parties. He must also reimburse the Board the costs and expenses of this proceeding.

Davidson County lawyer Newton S. Holiday was today temporarily suspended from the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. The court found that Holiday did not respond to a disciplinary complaint from the Board of Professional Responsibility, an action that, under Section 12.3 of Supreme Court Rule 9, provides for the immediate temporary suspension of an attorney’s license. This suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the Supreme Court. 

Williamson County lawyer Renata Dash was reinstated to the practice of law on June 5, retroactive to May 18, after being placed on inactive status in March 2012. Arizona attorney Matthew Brian Wenzlau was reinstated to the practice of law on June 11, retroactive to June 3. He had been placed on inactive status in May 2012.

The Tennessee Supreme Court entered an order today transferring the law license of Maury County lawyer Angela Kay Washington to disability inactive status. She may not practice law while on inactive status. She may be reinstated if she can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the disability is removed and she is fit to return to the practice of law.

Davidson County lawyer Kevin William Teets Jr. was yesterday suspended from the practice of law for 30 days by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. For one year following his reinstatement, Teets shall engage a practice monitor and he must pay the Board of Professional Responsibility all costs in the disciplinary proceeding. Teets assisted with the incorporation of a non-profit entity in exchange for being named treasurer of the non-profit, but later admitted to misappropriating funds while in that role. Teets is immediately suspended from the practice of law and prohibited from using any indicia of lawyer, legal assistant, or law clerk or maintaining a presence where the practice of law is conducted. He must notify all clients being represented in pending matters, as well as co-counsel and opposing counsel of the Supreme Court’s order suspending his law license and shall deliver to all clients any papers or property to which they are entitled.