Knox County lawyer Chadwick Barry Tindell on Tuesday received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court after the court found that he demonstrated a lack of competence and diligence in representing debtors in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Specifically, the court found that he repeatedly violated procedural rules and filing requirements.

Rutherford County attorney James Carl Cope was suspended today based on his guilty plea to the crime of insider trading. In imposing the suspension, the Tennessee Supreme Court also directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline. Read the BPR release.

Davidson County lawyer and former U.S. attorney Quenton I. White was disbarred today after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he made misrepresentations to clients, misused client funds and failed to protect clients’ property and funds. The court also noted that he failed to provide competent representation. In addition to the disbarment, White was ordered to pay restitution to former clients. White served as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee from 1999 to 2001, and as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction from 2003 to 2005. Read the BPR release.

Williamson County lawyer Edward Kendall White IV was censured on Oct. 14 after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that he filed an interpleader petition lacking any valid factual or legal basis. The court also censured Edward Kendall White III, who is the plaintiff in the interpleader petition, after finding that he took an active role in the litigation of the interpleader action. In addition, the board found that neither lawyer took appropriate action to expedite the handling of the petition. Read the BPR notices at the links above.

Sullivan County lawyer Robert Paul Starnes was censured on Oct. 14 after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that he repeatedly exposed himself to an employee at his law office. In April, Starnes pleaded no contest to the Class B misdemeanor of indecent exposure. Read the BPR notice.

Roane County lawyer Michael Anthony Guth was censured on Oct. 14 after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that he violated Rules of Professional Conduct dealing with meritorious claims, truthfulness in statements to the court and others and contacting an unrepresented person. The board also found that he engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation, and was prejudicial to the administration of justice. Read the BPR notice.

Wilmington, North Carolina, lawyer Jerry Dell Holmes, licensed to practice in Tennessee, was censured on Oct. 14 after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that he did not maintain adequate bookkeeping procedures and failed to properly train and supervise non-lawyer staff, which resulted in numerous overdrafts of his trust accounts. Read the BPR notice.

Davidson County lawyer James Daniel Marshall was censured on Oct. 14 after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that he did very little work on a personal injury case after filing suit and failed to keep his client informed about the status of his representation. These actions resulted in the case being nonsuited by the court for failure to prosecute. Read the BPR notice.

Three lawyers have been suspended for failing to file the 2016 annual registration fee and proof that client funds are held in accounts participating in the IOLTA program, while 13 lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for failing to file the 2015 annual registration fee and IOLTA notice or comply with CLE requirements in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011 and 2007. See updated disciplinary listings at the links above.

Nashville lawyer William Caldwell Hancock was suspended from the practice of law today after the Tennessee Supreme Court determined that he did not contact the Tennessee Lawyers Assistant Program (TLAP) for an evaluation of his capacity to practice law and respond to or defend against a pending petition for discipline. The court had directed Hancock to contact TLAP in a June 24 order. The new suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. It is in addition to a one-year suspension imposed on Jan. 15. Read the BPR notice.