The Supreme Court of Tennessee today disbarred Shelby County lawyer Michael Constantine Skouteris from the practice of law and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $1,023,344.70 and costs of the disciplinary proceeding. Skouteris entered a conditional guilty plea on Feb. 18, admitting he knowingly and intentionally misappropriated client funds received in the settlement of personal injury litigation claims; knowingly misled clients regarding the status of their cases and the filing of pleadings, and failed to communicate. Skouteris forged client signatures on settlement paperwork and began new representations while temporarily suspended. Skouteris must comply with the state Supreme Court rules regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys and may not return to active practice until an order of reinstatement has been entered by the Supreme Court.

Shelby County lawyer Barbara Morris Zoccola was reinstated to the practice of law today. She had been suspended for two months on April 20, retroactive to Jan. 15. Zoccola filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory. Read the press release from the board.

On April 2, attorney Williamson County David D. Harris filed a petition for reinstatement. On April 29, he filed a “Voluntary Non-Suit of Petition for Reinstatement,” stating that he erroneously filed the petition. On May 1, the Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed the petition without prejudice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order on May 1 removing the disability inactive status imposed on McNairy County attorney Bobby Gene Gray Jr. Gray had filed a petition for reinstatement but the court stopped short of reinstating him noting that pending disciplinary proceedings must be resolved prior to any reinstatement. A temporary suspension imposed on July 27, 2017 remains in effect until further orders from the court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Williamson County lawyer Natasha N. Hazlett to the practice of law on April 15. Hazlett was placed on inactive status in March 2012. She filed a petition seeking reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory. She was reinstated retroactive to Feb. 28.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today reinstated Sumner County lawyer Randy Paul Lucas to the practice of law subject to certain conditions. Lucas was suspended in February 2019 for a period of three years, of which six months was to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Lucas filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory. During the probationary period, he must engage the services of a practice monitor and incur no new complaints of misconduct related to the original matter resulting in his suspension.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Williamson County lawyer David Dwayne Harris from the practice of law for two years with 60 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder to be served on probation. The court also directed him to make restitution in the amount of $10,000. Harris admitted to violating the rules in five cases, failing to communicate with clients, failing to file petitions for clients, engaging in a conflict of interest and communicating with a party that he knew was represented by counsel. His conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 4.2 and 8.4 (a).

Sevier County lawyer Maria Grace Dajcar today received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Dajcar was found to be in violation of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1, safe keeping funds, and was censured with the condition that she return $10,000 to her client within 180 days. A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorney’s ability to practice law.

Nashville attorney Harold Scott Saul yesterday received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Saul failed to adequately communicate with his client and was not diligent in the representation which caused the client to terminate the attorney-client relationship. Saul partially reimbursed his client, but failed to reimburse additional fees advanced to him that were deemed unreasonable as he had not provided any substantive representation in the matter. The court found Saul in violation of rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 and 8.4(a). He must reimburse his client $750 in fees within 60 days.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Shelby County lawyer Barbara Morris Zoccola for two months, retroactive to a suspension imposed on Jan. 15. In November 2019, Zoccola pled guilty in federal court to the misdemeanor charge of theft for falsely reporting work time and failing to report leave time as an assistant U.S. attorney. She was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay restitution and a fine, and resign her position. In the disciplinary proceeding, she admitted her conduct violated Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4.