Christian County, Kentucky, attorney Edmund Victor Smith was publicly censured Sept. 1 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Smith did not promptly refund an advance payment of fees after he withdrew from representation. He also failed to enter into a written fee agreement with another client. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Wednesday publicly censured Charlotte, North Carolina, attorney Aaron Alexander Smith, who is licensed to practice law in Tennessee. Smith harassed and threatened a former acquaintance resulting in the issuance of a restraining order. He successfully completed a pre-trial intervention program and the criminal charges were dismissed and expunged. Read the BPR release. 

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended James D. McWilliams of Washington, Georgia, in 2013 after he pleaded guilty to a serious crime. Since then, McWilliams was placed on diversion and successfully completed his probation. No conviction will result from his guilty plea, therefore the Board dismissed the Petition for Discipline on Aug. 25. McWilliams was on inactive status prior to the suspension and resumes inactive status. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court publicly censured Chattanooga attorney Barbara Sims Arthur on Aug. 25. The BPR filed a petition of discipline against Arthur based on two complaints, including her filing of two Chapter 13 Bankruptcy petitions when she had not been reinstated to practice in Bankruptcy Court following a previous suspension. Read the BPR release.

The law license of Walter F. Williams was transferred to disability inactive status on Aug. 25 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Williams cannot practice law while on disability inactive status but may return to practice after reinstatement by the court. Read the BPR release.

William M. Monroe’s law license was transferred to disability inactive status on Aug. 24 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Monroe cannot practice law while on disability inactive status but may return to practice after reinstatement by the court. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Elbert Jefferson Jr. on Aug. 24 after Jefferson deposited funds from a client’s settlement check into his own trust account. Jefferson also misled his client about why he could not disburse her portion of the $2,100 settlement. Read the BPR release.

Michael Barton Brooks was suspended from the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 21 after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and vehicular assault. The Supreme Court ordered the BPR to institute a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline to be imposed as a result of Brooks’s guilty plea. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Donald Walter Fisher of Nashville from the practice of law for one year on Aug. 21. Fisher failed to properly supervise non-lawyer employees in a personal injury practice and adequately communicate with clients. Read the BPR notice.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee issued an order removing Keith Lane Edmiston of Knoxville from disability inactive status on Aug. 24. Edmiston’s law license had been moved to disability inactive on Dec. 2, 2013. Read the BPR notice.