Memphis lawyer George Ernest Skouteris Jr. was disbarred from the practice of law today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. In 2010, Skouteris agreed to a settlement in an automobile accident without the authority of his clients. He signed their names to the settlement checks without their knowledge or consent and deposited them to his trust account. He later led the clients to believe their lawsuit was still ongoing. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday publicly censured Clarksville lawyer Travis Nathaniel Meeks. The court took the action after Meeks falsely stated in a letter to an adversary attorney that he anticipated calling an expert witness, a certified public accountant, who would testify that his adversary’s expert witness, also a CPA, was engaged in criminal conduct. As a result, the trial was postponed. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today decided to increase the punishment recommended for Robert Vogel, a Knoxville attorney who engaged in sexual misconduct involving a client that he was appointed to represent in a criminal matter. Vogel also revealed confidential information of another client to a judge in a different matter. He initially received a one-year suspension of his law license, with 30 days to be served on active suspension. The court concluded that Vogel’s conduct represents “a serious violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct and warrants a one-year active suspension.” Read the unanimous opinion in In re: Robert Lee Vogel, authored by Justice Jeffrey S. Bivins.

The state Supreme Court yesterday disbarred Knoxville attorney Billy J. Reed after the court found Reed abandoned his clients and his practice without proper or sufficient notice to his clients and failed to respond to the petition for discipline or appear at trial. Reed must pay the Board of Professional Responsibility’s costs and expenses, and the court costs within 90 days of the entry of the order of enforcement. Read the BPR release.

Clarksville lawyer John Edward Herbison was suspended yesterday from the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court for two years, with 60 days to be served as an active suspension. He is also required to pay $7,500 in restitution to his former clients. As a condition of probation, Herbison must engage a practice monitor at his expense. The court took the action after Herbison failed to refund a fee after failing to prepare an application for clemency and reasonably communicate with his clients. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today disbarred Maury County lawyer Matthew Bastian after he failed to refund unearned fees and abandoned his clients and practice. Bastian also failed to respond to the petition for discipline or appear at trial. He is required to pay restitution to a former client and the Board of Professional Responsibility’s costs in the disciplinary action. Read the BPR release.

The state Supreme Court temporarily today suspended Campbell County lawyer Wesley Lynn Hatmaker upon finding that he has misappropriated funds and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Hatmaker is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and he must cease representing existing clients by Feb. 28. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Thursday publicly censured Maury County attorney R. W. Hardison. Haridson in 2014 continued to work in his law office and perform legal activities despite the fact that his law license had been suspended for failing to comply with continuing legal education requirements. He was also discharged by clients after his communication with clients declined. Read the BPR release.

Monroe County attorney Barry Keith Maxwell was also publicly censured by the Court on Thursday after continuing to practice law while his license was suspended. Maxwell was suspended in August 2015 after failing to comply with continuing legal education requirements. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court publicly censured Loudon County lawyer Arthur Wayne Henry on Jan. 25. The Court took the action after Henry failed to take reasonable steps to move a 2012 case forward. Henry’s actions resulted in the defendants moving to dismiss for failure to prosecute in January 2015. Read the BPR release.

David Sicay-Perrow, an Atlanta-based attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, today was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Court took the action after Sicay-Perrow received funds on two occasions which were intended for a client. He failed to keep appropriate trust account records, commingled funds and failed to adequately monitor his trust account. Read the BPR release.