The Tennessee Supreme Court today unanimously affirmed a Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel’s suspension period for Williamson County attorney Connie Reguli and the trial court’s requirement that Reguli pay restitution to a former client. The 2011 petition for discipline against Reguli alleged that she failed to return client communications, refund unearned fees, provide an accounting of fees to a former client and the board, and that her website contained false statements. Reguli and the board appealed a hearing panel’s judgment to the Williamson County Circuit Court and later to the Supreme Court. Reguli claimed there had been a number of procedural and constitutional objections and the board challenged the panel’s probation period and requirements. The Court found that an 11-month, 29-day probated suspension from the practice of law was appropriate. Reguli is also required to submit to a probation monitor, and undergo an evaluation by the Tennessee Lawyer’s Assistance Program and submit to any monitoring requirement that TLAP deems necessary. Read the opinion in Board of Professional Responsibility v. Connie Reguli, authored by Chief Justice Sharon G. Lee and read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Hawkins County lawyer John Stephen Anderson Dec. 22 from the practice of law in two disciplinary cases. In the first case, Anderson agreed to a suspension of one year and payment of restitution for two clients. In the second case, Anderson agreed to suspension for five years, to be served consecutive to the suspension in the first matter, and payment of restitution to 12 clients. Anderson failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, failed to obtain written waivers from former clients regarding a conflict of interest and made false statements and material misrepresentations to the Court and his clients. Read the BPR release.

Nashville lawyer Edward L. Swinger was suspended from the practice of law today for 22 months, retroactive to the date of his temporary suspension on Feb. 25, 2014. The discipline is based on five complaints of misconduct alleging that he failed to act with diligence, failed to reasonably communicate with his clients, failed to promptly refund unearned fees and charged an unreasonable fee. Read the BPR release.

Wayne County lawyer Joshua Edward Polk received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court Dec. 21. He represented clients in two separate matters in which a concurrent conflict of interest existed. Read the BPR release.

Spence Roberts Bruner of Harriman was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court Dec. 21, effective immediately, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $4,250. Petitions contained five complaints alleging that Bruner failed to diligently represent his clients, failed to communicate with his clients and failed to respond to Disciplinary Counsel investigating this case. Read the BPR release.

Sullivan County lawyer Jason R. McLellan received a public censure from the Supreme Court of Tennessee today and was required to attend at least six hours of continuing legal education related to law practice management. He entered a conditional guilty plea admitting that his actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4 (communication) and 8.4(a) (misconduct). Read the Board of Professional Responsibility release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Memphis lawyer Andrewnetta Melissa Boyd from the practice of law on Dec. 21 for one year with 30 days to be served as active suspension and the remainder on probation. As conditions of probation, Boyd must have a practice monitor and undergo an evaluation by Tennessee Lawyer’s Assistance Program and enter into a monitoring agreement if deemed appropriate by TLAP. Boyd failed to act with diligence in the handling of a petition to change custody, failed to deposit an unearned fee in a trust account and failed to refund the fee when terminated prior to performing the work. Read the BPR release.

Knox County lawyer John Mark Hancock was publicly censured on Dec. 18 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Hancock was previously suspended for misconduct by the Tennessee Supreme Court and remains suspended. While still suspended, Hancock committed the unauthorized practice of law by drafting a contract for an individual to whom he was providing investment advice. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Campbell County lawyer Conrad Mark Troutman on Dec. 18 from the practice of law upon finding that Troutman misappropriated funds and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Troutman is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and he must cease representing existing clients by Jan. 17, 2016. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Sumner County lawyer William Douglas Hooper on Dec. 9 for one year retroactive to entry of the order of temporary suspension on July 3, 2014. Hooper is accused of not communicating with his client, failing to inform his client of motions and pleadings filed against him and failing to appear in court on behalf of his client. Read the BPR release.