The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Knox County lawyer James Lester Kennedy from the practice of law for two years today. The suspension is to be served consecutive to a three-year suspension imposed on June 5, 2019. The court took the action after finding that Kennedy knowingly (1) engaged in the unauthorized practice of law; (2) engaged in conduct involving misrepresentations and deceit; (3) failed to comply with a Supreme Court order dated July 20, 2017; and (4) failed to remove the indicia of attorney, lawyer and counselor at law in his correspondence. His actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 3.4, 4.1, 5.5, 8.1(b) and 8.4(a), (c), (d) and (g).

The Tennessee Supreme Court today vacated a temporary suspension it had imposed on Jan. 17 on Williamson County attorney Bradley Michael Carter. The court reports that shortly after the order was entered, counsel for the attorney provided documentation that the information being sought had been submitted to the Board of Professional Responsibility. The court found that the information had indeed been submitted to the board but had not been provided to the court in the petition for temporary suspension. The court therefore vacated the suspension order.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee today temporarily suspended Sullivan County lawyer Kyle Douglas Vaughan from the practice of law upon finding that he misappropriated funds for his own use and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Section 12.3 of Supreme Court Rule 9 provides for the immediate summary suspension of an attorney’s license to practice law in cases where an attorney misappropriated funds or poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Vaughan is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and he must cease representing existing clients by Feb. 21. This suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the Supreme Court.

Lawrence County lawyer and an assistant district attorney general Christi Leigh Thompson was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court imposed the censure after determining that she made several inappropriate comments during an opening statement and closing argument that “were clearly impermissible and prejudicial to the defendant.” The court found that her conduct negated the defendant’s right to a fair trial and that the case was reversed on appeal for prosecutorial misconduct. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 3.4(e)(3) and 8.4(d).

The Supreme Court of Tennessee today suspended Sullivan County lawyer Steven Carl Frazier from the practice of law after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Conduct regarding a complaint of misconduct.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Williamson County lawyer Bradley Michael Carter after finding that misappropriated funds and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

Memphis lawyer Charles Edgar Waldman received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court took the action after determining that he failed to obtain a written fee agreement from a client and failed to deposit funds into his client trust account. The court also found that Waldman was not diligent in his representation of his client or the expedition of the client’s legal matter. Finally, after the client terminated the representation, Waldman failed to formally withdraw as counsel. His actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 1.15 and 1.16(c).

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Shelby County lawyer Barbara Morris Zoccola from the practice of law until further order. Zoccola was suspended based on her guilty plea in a case before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. During her employment with the U.S. Justice Department as an assistant U.S. Attorney, Zoccola misreported and falsely certified her time and attendance records. By doing so, she accrued leave time to which she was not entitled. The matter has now been referred to the Board of Professional Responsibility to determine the extent of final discipline. In the criminal case, sentencing is set for March 5.

Nashville lawyer Gregory Wade Dawson received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court took the action after determining that Dawson knowingly provided legal services to clients, prepared and filed pleadings, and appeared in court after he was administratively suspended from the practice of law. His actions violate Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5 and 8.4(d).

Memphis lawyer Marie A. Washington received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court found that Washington violated a number of ethics rules, including failing to adequately communicate the terms of her fee agreement; applying to the court for payment of fees in excess of what was provided to her client; failing to notify the court she had been paid by her client for some of the fees included in her fee application; and failing to safeguard funds until the dispute with her former client was resolved. The court found that these acts violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 3.3 and 8.4(a)(c)(d).