The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Marshall Scott Smith from the practice of law on Nov. 18 and directed him to make restitution to former clients. The court took the action after determining that Smith failed to deposit settlement funds into his trust account, misappropriated funds from his clients, accepted fees for little or no work, used his trust account for personal expenses, failed to adequately communicate with clients, settled a case without the client’s authority, borrowed money from a client without obtaining written informed consent, and failed to timely respond to complaints filed against him. Read the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Terrence Joseph Fairfax from the practice of law until further notice on Nov.18. The court took the action after Fairfax was convicted of felony theft. The court also directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline to be imposed. Read the BPR notice.

Cheatham County lawyer James Kirby was censured yesterday after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he violated Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(c). The court determined that while acting as executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, Kirby engaged in an act of misconduct in the hiring and supervising of a part time prosecutor pro tem. Read the BPR notice.

Hamilton County lawyer Keith Alan Black was suspended today. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after determining that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a complaint of misconduct. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Kennesaw, Georgia, lawyer Ben Coleman to active status on Oct. 7. Coleman had been moved to disability inactive status on Feb. 1, 2010. Coleman petitioned the court for reinstatement and the court determined that he met the requirements for active status. Read the court’s reinstatement order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Hawkins County attorney Duane Sidney Snodgrass to disability inactive status on Nov. 4. Snodgrass may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition 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.

Seven lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for administration violations. Of that group, three had failed to comply with CLE requirements in 2015; one had failed to pay annual registration fees in 2011; two had failed to pay the 2015 annual registration fee and/or file the required notice that client funds are held in accounts participating in the IOLTA program; and one had failed to pay the 2016 fee and/or file the IOLTA notice in 2016. See updated disciplinary listings at the links above.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Williamson County lawyer John Jay Clark from the practice of law today following his conviction for forgery by the Davidson County Criminal Court. In addition to imposing the suspension, the Supreme Court directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute a formal proceeding to determine final discipline. The suspension will remain in effect until further order of the court. Read the BPR notice.

Benton County lawyer Alan George Ward was suspended from the practice of law Tuesday after the Tennessee Supreme Court determined that he posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. Specifically, the court found that he failed to file briefs in the Court of Criminal Appeals and failed to appear before the court pursuant to a show cause order. Read the BPR notice.

Davidson County lawyer James Charles Edwards received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday. The court took the action after determining that Edwards failed to diligently represent a client, failed to expedite the filing of the client’s divorce action, and submitted an unreasonable invoice for fees to the client. The court found the fees to be unreasonable based on the lack of complexity of the legal services requested and the lack of any results obtained for the client. Read the BPR release.