TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

2,289 Posts found
Previous • Page 134 of 229 • Next

Shelby County Lawyer Placed on Disability Inactive Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 31, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
By order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered Aug. 30, the law license of George Ernest Skouteris was transferred to disability inactive status after the Board of Professional Responsibility filed a petition for discipline against Skouteris. By orders filed Feb. 21, 2014, April 21, 2015 and Feb. 9, 2016, the Tennessee Supreme Court previously disbarred Skouteris. Skouteris has not requested, nor been granted, reinstatement from these disbarments and they remain in effect. Skouteris cannot practice law while on disability inactive status and may not return to the practice of law unless and until he is reinstated from his disbarments, his disability status is removed, he is determined to be fit to resume the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court, and his pending disciplinary action is resolved. 

Florida Attorney Disbarred

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 31, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
On Aug. 31, the Supreme Court of Tennessee entered an order of reciprocal discipline disbarring Robert Alan Lenter of Boca Raton, Florida. The Board of Professional Responsibility submitted a notice of reciprocal discipline based upon an order of the Supreme Court of Louisiana accepting Lenter’s permanent resignation from the practice of law in lieu of discipline. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel in Louisiana was conducting an investigation of Lenter into allegations that he mishandled client settlement funds, among other misconduct. Lenter must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 28 and 30, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.  

Administrative Suspensions Removed for 19 Attorneys

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 31, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
Nineteen attorneys suspended earlier this month for failing to comply with CLE requirements have been reinstated. See the full list of suspended attorneys with updated reinstatements here.

Shelby County Attorney Disbarred

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 29, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
Homer L. Cody of Memphis was disbarred on Tuesday by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Further, Cody must pay the Board of Professional Responsibility’s costs and expenses and the court costs within 90 days. This is the fifth disciplinary proceeding brought against Cody arising from his representation of one client. The first case resulted in a public censure. The second resulted in a 180-day suspension. The third resulted in a one-year suspension. The fourth resulted in a two-year suspension. While the first two suspensions were in effect, Cody filed two pleadings on behalf of the client in the Chancery Court for Shelby County. After the third suspension took effect, Cody filed an additional pleading in the case. In addition to his unauthorized practice of law, by filing pleadings on behalf of the client, Cody continued his conflict of interest that formed the basis for the previous suspensions.

South Carolina Attorney Placed on Disability Inactive Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 28, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
The Tennessee law license of South Carolina attorney David W. Spence was transferred to disability inactive status today, pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Spence cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed, and he is fit to resume the practice of law.

Administrative Suspensions Removed for 15 Attorneys

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 28, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions

Fifteen attorneys suspended last week for failing to comply with CLE requirements have been reinstated. See the full list of suspended attorneys with updated reinstatements here.

Davidson County Lawyer Disbarred

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 24, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
The Supreme Court of Tennessee today disbarred Davidson County lawyer Judson Wheeler Phillips from the practice of law effective immediately. Phillips consented to disbarment because he could not successfully defend himself on charges alleged in a petition for discipline that included 18 disciplinary complaints and 91 additional pending disciplinary complaints. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 23, requires that Phillips’ consent to disbarment be maintained under seal. 

Davidson County Lawyer Placed on Disability Inactive Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 24, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
By order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered Aug. 23, the law license of Davidson County attorney Andrea Elaine Phelan was transferred to disability inactive status pursuant to Section 27.4 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Phelan cannot practice law while on disability inactive status.  She may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume the practice of law.

Attorneys Suspended for Failure to Meet CLE, Professional Privilege Tax Requirements

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 24, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions

Two orders were issued this week suspending attorneys for administrative issues. On Aug. 22, a Tennessee Supreme Court order was issued suspending attorneys for failing to comply with Rule 21 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court, which requires mandatory continuing legal education. Another order was issued on Aug. 23, suspending attorneys for failing to pay the state professional privilege tax pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 67-4-1702. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 26, attorneys who are deemed noncompliant for 90 days or more are summarily suspended.

Carroll County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 16, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
The Supreme Court of Tennessee today temporarily suspended Carroll County lawyer Benjamin S. Dempsey from the practice of law upon finding that Dempsey misappropriated funds and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Section 12.3 of Supreme Court, Rule 9, provides for the immediate temporary suspension of an attorney’s license to practice law in cases of an attorney’s misappropriation of funds. Dempsey is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and he must cease representing existing clients by Sept. 15. After Sept.15, he may not use any indicia of lawyer, legal assistant, or law clerk nor maintain a presence where the practice of law is conducted.
Previous • Page 134 of 229 • Next

Law-Related Blogs AND PODCASTS

Check out other law-related blogs and podcasts generated from the Tennessee legal community or of interest to the Tennessee lawyers.