TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

2,289 Posts found
Previous • Page 153 of 229 • Next

Putnam County Lawyer Censured

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 7, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Putnam County lawyer Albert Fitzpatrick Officer was publicly censured by the Board of Professional Responsibility on Thursday. Officer’s license was suspended for administrative reasons on Sept. 12 of last year, but he nonetheless made several court appearances and engaged in settlement negotiations in two divorce cases.

14 Suspended Over IOLTA Noncompliance, 2 Reinstated

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 6, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Fourteen lawyers have been suspended for noncompliance with mandatory IOLTA reporting requirements. Of that group, 12 are from Tennessee, one is from Alabama and one is from Kentucky. Additionally, one attorney has been reinstated after complying with Section 20 of Supreme Court Rule 9 and paying all delinquent fees and mandatory IOLTA requirements have been completed, and another, suspended in 2016, has been reinstated for paying all delinquent registration fees.

Shelby County Lawyer Censured

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 5, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Samuel Jones of Shelby County was publicly censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on June 30. Jones was found to have acted improperly in the representation of two clients in Bankruptcy Court by accepting fees without court approval and failing to deposit them into his trust account. He also failed to meet certain filing deadlines.

Wayne County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 3, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
On June 30, Wayne County lawyer John Wilbur Castleman, Jr. was suspended from the practice of law for one year and one day. Castleman was administratively suspended on July 16, 2015, for noncompliance with the mandatory IOLTA reporting requirement and non-payment of the annual registration fee. In July 2015, Castleman was paid a $500 refundable retainer by a client, but he did not deposit the retainer to his trust account or refund the unearned fee to the client.  After learning of his suspension, Castleman met with the client in order to prepare for a hearing, but he did not notify his clients of his suspension. Instead, he wrote a number of his clients a misleading letter in an effort to explain his absence from the office without advising them of his suspension

Davidson County Lawyer Disbarred

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jul 3, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
On June 30, Davidson County lawyer Thomas Holland McKinnie was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court. In September of 2016, McKennie was accused of misappropriating funds from a trust he prepared for the benefit of a minor child. McKinnie wrote checks to himself from the trust account in the total amount of $196,469.05.  He closed the trust account on October 9, 2014, after the funds had been depleted.  In January of 2015, McKinnie failed to pay the school tuition beneficiary, which resulted in the termination of the child’s enrollment. McKinnie did not file a response, and a default judgment was entered against him.

Gibson County Lawyer Disbarred

Posted by: Barry Kolar on Jun 23, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions

Edythe “Didi” Paschall Christie of Gibson County was disbarred today by the Tennessee Supreme Court because of her Madison County Circuit Court conviction for tampering with evidence. The Board of Professional Responsibility had initiated formal proceedings against Christie following her suspension in September 2015.

Shelby County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 22, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Shelby County lawyer Michael Leon Harris was suspended from the practice of law yesterday for five years, retroactive to Nov. 6, 2015. Harris was temporarily suspended on that date for failing to respond to disciplinary counsel. Harris must pay restitution to nine former clients as a condition to his reinstatement. Petitions for discipline against Harris include instances of lack of diligence and communication, excessive fees, improper termination, failure to expedite litigation, failure to perform services for which he was paid, unauthorized practice of law, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

Davidson County Lawyer Censured

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 22, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Nashville attorney Kristen Elizabeth Menke was publicly censured by order of the Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday. A petition for discipline was filed against Menke that included a complaint of disciplinary misconduct alleging that Menke made inappropriate comments during a closing argument, making direct and indirect references to the defendant’s decision not to testify. The petition also said she improperly injected personal opinion about the justness of the cause in her closing argument. 

Blount County Lawyer Reinstated on Probation

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 21, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Effective June 20, Blount County attorney Charles David Deas was reinstated to the practice of law. Deas was suspended on April 17 for six months, but will serve the remainder of his suspension on probation.

Williamson County Lawyer Suspended

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Jun 21, 2017
News Type: BPR Actions
Yesterday Williamson County attorney S. Brad Dozier was suspended from the practice of law for two years, with 30 days active suspension and the remainder on probation. Dozier was found to have failed to act with diligence in handling client matters and failed to adequately communicate with clients. He must engage a practice monitor, undergo evaluation by the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program and enter into a monitoring agreement if deemed appropriate by TLAP.
Previous • Page 153 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.