Crystal Michelle Goan was publicly censured on Oct. 17 for improperly using methods of obtaining evidence and attempting to gain an advantage against her husband for their divorce proceeding. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Marshall Scott Smith to disability inactive status after Smith filed a notice with the Court saying that he suffers from a disability that renders him incapable of practicing law and prevents him from defending himself against a disciplinary complaint. Smith may return to the practice of law upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume. View the BPR notice.

Carl Robert Ogle was disbarred from the practice of law on Thursday. While representing the executrix of an estate, Ogle’s non-lawyer assistant misappropriated the funds. The estate was closed in August 2013, and Ogle represented to the court that the assets of the estate had been distributed to the beneficiaries, which was false. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the law license of Kent Lowery Booher based upon his entry of a guilty plea to two counts of statutory rape. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday censured Hawkins County lawyer Renfro Blackburn Baird and ordered him to refund a fee to a client. Baird was paid a retainer to pursue a post conviction petition. He promised that if he was not successful, he would refund a portion of the fee. The court found that Baird performed minimal work and failed to (1) maintain the fee in his trust account, (2) keep his client informed about the case or (3) refund any portion of the fee after being terminated. View the BPR notice.

A number of lawyers were reinstated to the practice of law during September after complying with Supreme Court Rule 21, which requires mandatory continuing legal education. Nine of the individuals were suspended on Aug. 25, 2014, for failure to complete CLE requirements in 2013, while one was suspended on Aug. 31, 2012, for failure to meet CLE requirements in 2011. They are now all noted as reinstated. See the updated lists at the links above.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Knox County lawyer Ruth Ann Ambs from the practice of law on Oct. 3 after finding that Ambs failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee temporarily suspended Memphis lawyer David Gregory Hays from the practice of law on Sept. 29 after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a complaint of misconduct. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order Sept. 19 suspending nine additional lawyers who have assumed inactive status but have not paid the required annual inactive status fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility. In January 2012, the court adopted amendments to Rule 9, Sections 20.1, 20.2 and 20.8, which included the new fee requirement. The fee is due on or before the first day of the attorney’s birth month each year. See the list of those suspended so far this year.

A number of Tennessee-licensed lawyers have been reinstated after being administratively suspended for failure to meet CLE requirements in 2013. They are now noted as reinstated. See the updated list.