On July 10, Shelby County lawyer Paul Forrest Craig received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility. The board found that during his representation of a client in a property matter, Craig failed to communicate with his client and failed to provide his client with a complete copy of his file for over five months despite multiple requests. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.15 and 1.16.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on July 8 referred Williamson County lawyer Rodney Douglas Hanson II to the Board of Professional Responsibility for such action as it may deem warranted. Hanson was found guilty of one count of harassment and one count of theft on May 29. He was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in the Williamson County Jail with a requirement that he serve at least 30% of his sentence for the harassment count followed by 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation for the theft. He also must make restitution to the victim of the theft in the amount of $768.24.

On July 6, Shelby County attorney Robert Dean Flynn received a public censure from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. The board found that over the course of six months, Flynn knowingly commingled personal and client funds in his firm’s IOLTA and paid personal and operating expenses from the account. He also held a client’s funds for 49 days, during which time the IOLTA fell below the client’s held balance of $3273.70 for a week before the account became overdrawn, placing the client’s funds at risk. The board found that no clients suffered actual harm from Flynn’s actions but that he violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a), (b) and (c).

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for administrative violations, including 10 suspended for failure to complete required continuing legal education hours and 12 suspended for failure to pay the annual professional privilege tax. Reinstatements for CLE compliance include one lawyer suspended in 2018, one in 2022, five in 2024 and three in 2025. Reinstatements for paying the professional privilege tax include 12 suspended in 2026. See the updated lists at the links above. TBA has administrative suspensions dating back to 2005. Be sure to check the Board of Professional Responsibility's website for the most up to date information on lawyers' licenses.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 25 suspended 18 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, 11 of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Lawyers reinstated in the last month include six suspended this year and three suspended in 2025. TBA has administrative suspensions dating back to 2005. Be sure to check the Board of Professional Responsibility's website for the most up to date information on lawyers' licenses.

On June 25, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Sullivan County lawyer Samuel Ervin White from the practice of law for six years, with four years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation with conditions. In one matter, the court found that White failed to comply with a reinstatement order imposing numerous conditions, including engaging a practice monitor and a certified public accountant, both of whom were to file reports with the court. In a second matter, the court found that White repeatedly misled his client to believe a petition had been filed and set for hearing, delayed filing a petition for over two years, and failed to promptly refund a client's retainer. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(d), 1.16, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.

Hamilton County lawyer Erin Vivian Wallin was reinstated to the practice of law on June 12 after being on inactive status for more than five years. Wallin was placed on inactive status on Oct. 6, 2020. The Board of Professional Responsibility reports that it has reviewed her petition and found it satisfactory. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued the reinstatement order on June 23.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 18 permanently disbarred Putnam County lawyer James Nathan Hargis from the practice of law after Hargis stated that he could not successfully defend himself against disciplinary charges. The court found that Hargis misappropriated and converted client and third-party funds in violation of Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. On April 13, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended Hargis from the practice of law after finding that he misappropriated client and third-party funds and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. The temporary suspension was dissolved on June 11 in light of the disbarment.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Arizona lawyer Katrina Ann Jewett to the practice of law in Tennessee on June 17. Jewett had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on June 19, 2013. She filed a petition for reinstatement, which the court found satisfactory. The court issued the order on June 18.

Davidson County lawyer Sornavidya Saba Sankar on June 17 received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Sankar admittedly abused substances, experienced mental health issues, failed to communicate with her clients about their cases being reset, failed to appear in court and failed to respond to the court’s inquiries into her status — all of which delayed litigation. Her failure to appear at a hearing also resulted in multiple cases being reset and new attorneys being appointed to replace her. The court found that Sankar failed to act competently in representing her clients and made multiple misrepresentations to a colleague about self-reporting to the Board of Professional Responsibility. Sankar was found to have violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), 3.2, 8.4(c) and 8.4(d).