David Sidney Eichholz of Savannah, Georgia, was publicly censured on April 30 for failing to disclose that his Tennessee license had been on inactive status since May 14, 2012. While the license was inactive, Eichholz agreed to represent a client in a personal injury action pending in Memphis. He later was contacted by the client’s former lawyer who informed him that the client did not intend to change counsel. Eichholz withdrew from the representation immediately, made no formal appearance and took no action in the case. He also made changes to his letterhead and website to indicate the inactive status of his license. Read the BPR notice.

Maury County lawyer Joel Robert Bellis received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on April 30. The board also directed Bellis to attend and successfully complete an anger management program approved by the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program within 180 days. The board took the action after finding that Bellis threatened to harm one of his former law partners. Read the BPR notice.

Nashville lawyer Billy J. Reed was suspended from the practice of law on May 4 for three years, retroactive to Jan. 17, 2014 – the date the Tennessee Supreme Court entered an order of temporary suspension. The court also directed Reed to make restitution to four former clients and work with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program. The suspension was based on six complaints of misconduct that focused primarily on Reed’s failure to communicate with clients. Read the BPR release.

By order of the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 28, the law license of Shelby County lawyer David Gregory Hays was transferred to disability inactive status. Hays may not practice law while on disability inactive status. He may petition the court for a return to active practice by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law. Read the BPR notice.

Sumner County lawyer John T. Harding received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on Tuesday (April 28). The board found that he failed to deposit a client’s refundable fee into his trust account and instead commingled the funds in his operating account; had his client enter into a fee agreement seven months after representation began, which was more advantageous to Harding; and did not advise his client of the opportunity to seek the advice of independent counsel. Read the BPR notice.

Davidson County lawyer James D. R. Roberts Jr. received a public censure on April 20 for misconduct in court. Roberts appealed the decision, arguing that the trial court had been “evasive and untruthful,” had “conduct[ed] unnecessary hearings and enter[ed] untruthful and harassing orders in order to cover up” its own improper conduct; and made improper findings against him “to deflect attention from its own illegal acts.” The Court of Appeals found that Roberts’ claims were baseless and upheld the censure. Read the BPR release.

Daniel Rafael Solla, formerly of Knoxville, was disbarred on Tuesday. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action based on 20 complaints, which all centered on charges he abandoned his law practice. Solla, who now lives in Flowery Branch, Georgia, left his law practice in April 2013 without advising his clients. He then failed to communicate with clients, attend meetings or appear in court. The court ordered him to pay restitution to 18 clients. Read the BPR release.

Memphis lawyer George Ernest Skouteris Jr. was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 21. The court directed that the sanction run concurrent with a previous disbarment imposed on Feb. 21, 2014. It also ordered Skouteris to pay restitution to a former client. The court took the action based on two complaints. In the first, Skouteris ignored a client’s numerous emails and telephone calls, settled a case without her knowledge and failed to maintain sufficient funds in his trust account. In the second complaint, Skouteris failed to use a written agreement for a contingency fee and failed to consult with or notify clients about settlements. Read the BPR release.

Jay R. Slobey was censured by the Board of Professional Responsibility on Monday (April 20). The board took the action based on Slobey’s handling of a motion to dismiss a client’s case. After securing opposing counsel’s consent for a one-week extension to respond to the motion, Slobey told the court that opposing counsel did not object to a three-week extension. The court granted his motion. When opposing counsel brought the matter to the court’s attention, the court granted the motion to dismiss the case. Slobey never responded and did not inform his client about the dismissal. Read the BPR release.

Williamson County lawyer Eric Lyndol Davis received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on April 16. The discipline was based on three complaints, all of which centered around Davis’ alcohol abuse, the board reports. The specific misconduct included making threats to others, driving under the influence and disclosing confidential information about a former client. Read the BPR release.