New Jersey attorney Deon Devall Owensby filed a petition with the Tennessee Supreme Court in early March requesting transfer of his law license to disability inactive status, arguing that he is suffering from a temporary disability or infirmity that prevents him from responding to or defending against a disciplinary matter pending against him. The Board of Professional Responsibility asked the court to refer the matter to a hearing panel or require the submission of additional medical documentation. On March 27, the court determined that the documentation submitted in support of the petition was insufficient and directed Owensby to show cause why his petition should not be dismissed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Davidson County lawyer Dana L. Nero on Feb. 25. She had been suspended in 2013 for three years, with 11 months and 29 days to be served on active suspension (retroactive to June 11, 2012) and the remainder to be served on probation.

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility recently reported that 47 lawyers previously suspended have been reinstated. These lawyers were suspended for failure to pay the annual fee or file a report that client funds are held in an IOLTA account in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. See all lists of administrative suspensions and reinstated online.

The law license of John Paul Doyle was transferred to disability inactive status by Supreme Court order on Wednesday. Doyle cannot practice law while on disability inactive status, but may practice after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law.

The Tennessee Supreme Court censured Memphis lawyer Kathleen Laird Caldwell today and directed her to reimburse a former client $2,750 in fees. The court found that after agreeing to represent a client in a post-conviction criminal appeal for a flat fee of $7,500, she did not obtain a signed fee agreement from the client and deposited a portion of the funds in an operating account. The court also found that when Caldwell met with the client she had not reviewed any materials related to the case and had not begun the appeals process. Less than a month after being retained, the client terminated representation and requested a refund of the unearned portion of the fee. Caldwell only offered to refund $950. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.15.

Chattanooga lawyer John Gary McDougal was censured today by the Board of Professional Responsibility. McDougal violated Rule of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2, 3.4(c) and 8.4(a) and (d) after he failed to adhere to filing deadlines and thereafter failed to comply with orders filed by the Criminal Court of Appeals. He was found to be in contempt of court for his conduct.

The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Shelby County lawyer Paul James Springer from the practice of law yesterday and ordered him to pay restitution to a client in the amount of $150,000. The court took the action after determining that Springer misappropriated settlement funds; engaged in the unauthorized practice of law; made material misrepresentations to his client; failed to communicate with or notify clients of his suspension; failed to withdraw as attorney of record; and engaged in criminal conduct as well as conduct involving dishonesty, deceit, misrepresentations and fraud. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1-4, 1.7, 1.15-16, 4.2, 5.5, 8.1 and 8.4 (a), (b), (c) and (g).

The law license of Williamson County lawyer Margaret L. Akins was transferred to disability inactive status today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Atkins may not practice law while on inactive status. She may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume the practice of law.

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility recently reported that 33 lawyers previously suspended for failure to pay the annual professional privilege tax have been reinstated. They include one suspended in 2015, one suspended in 2018, three suspended in 2019 and 28 suspended in 2020. See all administrative suspensions and reinstatements here.

Shelby County lawyer Arthur Earle Horne III was censured today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court took the action following Horne’s conviction of simple assault in August 2018. The conviction arose out of a domestic altercation. Though Horne was not acting in a representative capacity when the incident occurred, the court found that his conduct reflects adversely on his fitness as a lawyer.