Rutherford County lawyer Carla Ann Kent Ford was suspended from the practice of law for four years today. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action based on Ford’s felony conviction for theft of property valued between $1,000 and $10,000. The court determined her actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) and (c). Read the BPR notice.

Nashville lawyer John Lyndon Lowery was disbarred from the practice of law yesterday. The state Supreme Court made the disbarment retroactive to the date of a prior disbarment on June 24 and directed Lowery to make restitution to clients as a condition of reinstatement. The court took the action after finding that Lowery settled a case without his clients’ knowledge or consent, signed their names to a settlement check without their permission, misappropriated settlement funds and made misrepresentations to clients that their cases were progressing normally. A suspension imposed on Lowery in 2015 for failure to pay the professional privilege tax also remains in effect. Read the BPR notice.

The state Supreme Court reinstated Donald Walter Fisher to the practice of law today but directed him to engage a practice monitor and enter into a monitoring agreement with the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program, both for one year, as a condition of reinstatement. Fisher was suspended for 90 days on Aug. 21.

Williamson County lawyer John Jay Clark was disbarred by the state Supreme Court yesterday. The court took the action based on five complaints. In two cases, the court found that Clark abandoned his clients. In a third case, the court found that Clark obtained a default judgment in a divorce, but failed to file an order memorializing the default and failed to get a final decree. In a fourth case, Clark never filed divorce documents with the court and misrepresented the status of the case to his client. In a fifth and final case, the court found that Clark sent his client a divorce decree on which he forged the signature of the judge. The court also noted that Clark was suspended from the practice of law while representing some of these clients. A previous four-year suspension imposed in 2015 remains in effect.

The law license of Williamson County lawyer Robert Keith Good was transferred to disability inactive status on Dec. 9. He may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law. Read the BPR release.

Eight lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for administration violations. Of that group, three had failed to comply with 2016 CLE requirements; one had failed to pay the 2016 annual registration fee and file notice that funds are held in accounts participating in the IOLTA program; one had failed to pay the 2016 inactive status fee; one had failed to pay the 2014 annual registration fee; one had failed to comply with 2008 CLE requirements; and one had failed to pay the 2008 annual registration fee. See updated disciplinary listings at the links above.

Two additional attorneys were suspended on Nov. 22 for failure to file their annual BPR registration fee and mandatory notice that client funds are held in IOLTA compliant accounts. Read the order.

Davidson County lawyer Sue McKnight Evans was transferred to disability inactive status today. She may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume the practice of law. Read the BPR release.

By order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered Nov. 28, the law license of Knox County lawyer Roy Patrick Neuenschwander was transferred to disability inactive status. Neuenschwander may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement by showing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law. Read the BPR release.

Davidson County lawyer William Ashby Smith has been reinstated to the practice of law after taking inactive status in March 2007. The Tennessee Supreme Court reports that Smith filed a petition seeking reinstatement in November and demonstrated that he has met the requirements for reinstatement. Read the court order.