The Tennessee Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended South Carolina lawyer Jennifer Elizabeth Meehan after she pleaded guilty to the serious crime of bank fraud. The court also directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to conduct a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline. Read the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Linda Kaye Kendall Garner to the practice of law on Aug. 9. She had been suspended for one year on June 15, with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder to be served on probation. Her probationary period will now begin. Read the BPR notice.

The law license of Pickett County lawyer Phillips Meredith Smalling was transferred to disability inactive status on Aug. 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 practice. Read the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued two orders on July 27 suspending 23 lawyers for failure to pay the annual registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility and/or file a mandatory compliance statement that eligible client funds are held in accounts participating in the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. Those who have complied with the rules since the orders were issued, and for whom notification of a status change has been received from the Board of Professional Responsibility, are noted as reinstated. See the updated lists and court orders.

Knoxville lawyer Steven E. Sams was disbarred on Aug. 5 for practicing law while suspended. Sams was suspended on Sept. 12, 2013, for failing to respond to an ethics complaint. Following that suspension, he contacted the surviving heirs of a deceased acquaintance, represented to them that he was a licensed attorney and offered to serve as administrator of their mother’s estate. Read the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Wendal Douglas Jackson from the practice of law yesterday. The court took the action based on his conviction for the serious crime of attempted extortion. The court previously had transferred Jackson’s license to disability inactive status on July 28 and suspended him on June 17 after determining that he posed a threat of harm to the public. The new order directs the Board of Professional Responsibility to conduct a formal proceeding to determine what discipline should be imposed if and when the disability status is removed. Read the BPR notice.

Davidson County lawyer Dale M. Quillen on Wednesday was transferred to disability inactive status and will not be allowed to practice law until showing evidence that the disability has been removed. Read the BPR notice.

The license of Sullivan County lawyer Wendal Douglas Jackson was transferred to disability inactive status today. He had earlier been temporarily suspended after he was found to pose a substantial threat of harm to the public. Read the BPR notice.

Davidson County lawyer Dana L. Nero received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 26. The court found that Nero gave her client erroneous advice about when he would be released if he pleaded guilty in a criminal matter. Nero promised the client, who had been incarcerated for 27 months, that he would go home shortly after pleading guilty and facing a sentence of six years. However, release from a sentence of that length requires the approval of the parole board. Read the BPR notice.