TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

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Shelby County Attorney Disbarred

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
On May 8, Scott Eric Crawford, of Collierville, was disbarred from the practice of law by order of the Tennessee Supreme Court, effective May 18. As a condition of reinstatement, he must make restitution to one client. Crawford represented his client in a fire loss dispute with an insurance company. A hearing panel found that Crawford forged his client’s signature on the insurance payment checks, failed to deposit them into his trust account as required, failed to adequately communicate with his client, failed to maintain adequate records and to account for the distribution of funds, and failed to remit his client’s portion in a timely manner. In addition, Crawford was found to have concealed the payment of a portion of his fees by the insurance carrier when he was not entitled to any fees, and misappropriated an amount he claimed he was holding in escrow for the client’s payment of contractor expenses.  

Hamblen County Lawyer Placed on Disability Inactive Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 9, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
By order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered May 9, the law license of Richard Dale Darby was transferred to disability inactive status pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Darby cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law.

Montgomery County Lawyer Disbarred

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 7, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
The Supreme Court of Tennessee today disbarred Montgomery County lawyer Carrie Leigh Gasaway and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $6,500 and costs of the disciplinary proceeding. She was previously disbarred on Oct. 15, 2015, and Oct. 29, 2017. Gasaway failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a prior public censure issued on April 13, 2016, for failing to provide competent and diligent representation and reasonably communicate with two clients, failing to account for funds held in trust, failing to deliver the trust funds to her client and failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning the disciplinary complaint. In the second disciplinary matter, she received a retainer fee but failed to provide professional services, adequately communicate with her client during her client’s military deployment or promptly refund unearned fees after being terminated.

5 Reinstated from Administrative Suspensions

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 4, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
Five attorneys were reinstated this week following administrative suspensions. Three were reinstated after being suspended earlier this year for failing to pay the annual registration fee. One was reinstated for failing to pay the inactive status fee in 2016, while one was reinstated following noncompliance with CLE requirements in 2017.

Washington County Lawyer Placed on Disability Inactive Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 30, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
By Order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered today, the law license of Washington County lawyer Ivan Monroe Lilly was transferred to disability inactive status, pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Lilly 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.

Loudon County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 30, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
Arthur Wayne Henry of Loudon County was suspended from the practice of law today for one year and one day, by Order of the Tennessee Supreme Court. In one case, Henry agreed to accept a settlement offer without advising his clients.  He received a $5,000 settlement check but did not advise his clients. The settlement check was never cashed. Henry did not respond to a show cause order requiring him to show cause why an order of compromise and settlement had not been entered and the case was dismissed without prejudice. In a second case, Henry did not diligently pursue a divorce petition or adequately communicate with his client.  In a third case, Henry did not diligently pursue a post-divorce matter or adequately communicate with his client. 

16 Suspended for Nonpayment of Annual Registration Fee

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 27, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
Ten Tennessee attorneys and six out of state attorneys were subject to administrative suspension on March 28 for nonpayment of the annual registration fee in 2017. Since the order was issued by the Tennessee Supreme Court, two of those attorneys have been reinstated. Read the full order here.

Loudon County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 26, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
The Supreme Court of Tennessee today temporarily suspended Loudon County lawyer Arthur Wayne Henry upon finding that Henry misappropriated funds 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 if an attorney poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Henry is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and he must cease representing existing clients by May 26.

Greene County Lawyer Placed on Disability Inactive Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 25, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions
Today the law license of Greene County attorney John T. Milburn Rogers was transferred to disability inactive status, pursuant to Section 27.4 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Rogers 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.

Putnam County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 19, 2018
News Type: BPR Actions

Effective April 19, the Supreme Court of Tennessee suspended Jaramiah Justin Hruska from the practice of law for two years, with 30 days active suspension and the remainder served on probation. Mr. Hruska must pay the Board of Professional Responsibility’s costs and expenses and court costs within 90 days. On November 22, 2016, a petition for discipline was filed against Hruska, and he later entered a conditional guilty plea subject to conditions that he comply with the recommendations of his health care professional and retain a practice monitor for the duration of his probation. The complaints alleged that Hruska pled guilty to the misdemeanor offense of patronizing prostitution for which he received judicial diversion, and for making inappropriate comments to the wife of one of his clients.

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