The law license of Mary Ellen Stevens was transferred to disability inactive status on July 15. Stevens may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume. View the BPR notice.

Matthew Bastian was suspended for 11 months and 29 days, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 and contact the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program for evaluation. Bastian improperly used his trust account for personal transactions, failed to timely respond to discovery requests, failed to appear at a hearing and failed to timely respond to pleadings resulting in default and dismissal of his client’s case. View the BPR notice.

Joseph Scott Bean Jr. was suspended from the practice of law on July 3 based upon his guilty plea to theft in an amount over $10,000. View the BPR notice.

Jon David Rogers was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court for one year and one day, all of which is to be served on probation subject to the conditions that he engage in a practice monitor and pay restitution and costs. Rogers allegedly committed several errors in Bankruptcy Court including accepting clients who did not qualify for bankruptcy protection, failing to advise clients to obtain credit counseling, paying filing fees in installments when the client had paid him the fee in full, as well as other errors that a competent bankruptcy practitioner should not make. View the BPR notice. 

On June 30, Mary Jeanette Clement was suspended from the practice of law based on four counts of misconduct. She was suspended for a period of two years with nine months of the suspension to be served as an active suspension and 15 months probated with conditions. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued three orders last week suspending Tennessee-licensed attorneys who did not pay their registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility and/or did not file a mandatory compliance statement that eligible client funds are held in accounts participating in the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. Lawyers who since have complied with the requirements are noted as reinstated. See the updated lists and download the orders.

The law license of John Alley was transferred to disability inactive status on June 19. Alley cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume. View the BPR notice. 

Venus Michelle Stanek’s law license was transferred to disability inactive status on June 16. Stanek cannot practice law while on disability inactive status, and may return after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume. View the BPR notice.

The law license of K. Karl Spalvins was transferred to disability inactive status on June 16. Spalvins cannot practice law while on disability inactive status, and may return after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing of clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume. View the BPR notice.

James Michael Marshall of Spring Hill was suspended from the practice of law on June 13 for 60 days. The action was taken after the Tennessee Supreme Court determined that Marshall ignored a court order to prepare and file a statement of the evidence; waited a year before setting a motion for argument before the trial court; and notarized documents when he did not hold an active notary commission. Marshall pleaded guilty to six Class C misdemeanors of acting after the expiration of his notary commission and was placed on probation. He also entered a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. Download the BPR notice.