The law license of Arun Ratan was transferred to disability inactive status on May 20. Ratan 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 the practice of law. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Knox County lawyer Robert Lawson Cheek Jr. on May 15 after finding that he neglected his cases, failed to communicate with his clients and failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a petition for discipline and notice of a final disciplinary hearing. Specifically, the court found that Cheek settled a lawsuit without the knowledge and consent of a client, forged the client’s name on the settlement check and misappropriated the funds. In another case, he withheld money from a settlement to pay subrogation claims, but paid only a portion and misappropriated the remainder. The court also ordered Cheek to pay restitution to his former clients as a condition of reinstatement. View the BPR notice.

Nashville lawyer Jerry Alan Kennon was suspended from the practice of law on May 15 for one year and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,760. The Tennessee Supreme Court found that Kennon utilized his trust account as a personal account; filed suit against the wrong defendant; filed incorrect documents; and failed to (1) prepare client documents as requested, (2) refund an unearned fee, (3) appear in court as required, (4) obtain proper authorizations and (5) communicate with clients. Download the BPR release.

Brent J. McIntosh of Cleveland was publicly censured on May 9 after a hearing panel determined that, while representing a client, McIntosh threatened to present a criminal charge against an unrepresented person for the purpose of obtaining advantage in a civil matter. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday issued three orders suspending nine 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.

John E. Clemmons was disbarred on May 5, retroactive to April 2, 2013, the date on which he was temporarily suspended. Clemmons consented to disbarment because he could not successfully defend charges filed against him with the Board of Professional Responsibility alleging that he misappropriated money from several wards for whom he had been appointed conservator, and pled guilty to four counts of theft in amounts over $60,000, aggravated perjury and TennCare fraud. View the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Putnam County lawyer Samuel Joseph Harris from the practice of law on May 2 after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. The suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. View the BPR notice.

Roger David Hyman was suspended from the practice of law for six months on March 31. A hearing panel determined that Hyman communicated with a person who was represented by counsel, threatened a litigant, filed a lien against a litigant that was later declared void, failed to appear at a hearing and failed to timely pay sanctions required by a court order. Hyman appealed the decision but the panel’s decision was affirmed by Knox County Circuit Court and the Tennessee Supreme Court. View the BPR notice.

Robert Allen Doll III received a public censure on April 14. In conjunction with a probate matter, Doll failed to render competent representation, failed to act with reasonable diligence and failed to expedite litigation. Also, Doll failed to attend hearings and failed to comply with court orders, for which he was ultimately held in contempt. View BPR notice.

On April 15, Christopher Paul Westmoreland received a public censure for depositing client settlement funds into his operating account instead of his trust account on five separate occasions. In the first instance in March 2012, the client funds remained in Westmoreland’s operating account for more than three months. In each of the other instances, the client funds remained in his operating account for less than one month. View the BPR notice.