The Supreme Court on April 14 reinstated Martin Lynn Howie to the practice of law subject to several conditions, including the use of a practice monitor and continued compliance with his TLAP monitoring agreement. Howie had been suspended for three years, with one year to be served as an active suspension, retroactive to Feb. 8, 2011. View the BPR notice.

Wilson County lawyer Nathan Scott Moore was suspended April 14 for two years, but was allowed to serve 21 months on suspension after three months of active suspension, so long as he pays restitution within a year. The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Moore after finding that he failed to pay restitution as ordered in January 2011, accepted fees and failed to perform services for clients and neglected to communicate with clients. View the BPR release.

Jackson lawyer Angela Joy Hopson was suspended on April 7 by the Tennessee Supreme Court for one year. However, the court allowed Hopson to serve the year on probation so long as she pays restitution in the amount of $2,760 and engages the services of a practice monitor.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Davidson County lawyer Barrett B. Sutton Jr. to disability inactive status on March 28. While on inactive status, Sutton may not practice law. However, he may return to the practice of law after showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume practicing. Download the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on March 21 suspended Knox County lawyer Rebecca C. Vernetti for three years and ordered her to pay the costs and expenses of the disciplinary proceeding within 90 days. The court found that Vernetti made misrepresentations to the court and opposing counsel, failed to maintain disputed funds in her trust account, used disputed funds for her personal benefit, shared legal fees with a non-attorney husband and failed to maintain professional independence. Download the BPR notice.

Thomas Francis diLustro was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 25. In 2012, a petition for discipline was filed against diLustro based upon three complaints of misconduct. A panel determined diLustro failed to represent his clients in a diligent manner, failed to keep clients reasonably informed about the status of their cases, failed to promptly respond to numerous reasonable requests for information, forged his client’s signature to a parenting plan and submitted the document to the court for approval, falsely testified under oath regarding the signature on the Parenting Plan and failed to act promptly to correct an erroneous child support order. Download the BPR notice.

John Jay Clark was suspended from the practice of law for one year, which is to be served on probation subject to the conditions that he engage a practice monitor, comply with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program recommendations and pay restitution and costs. Download the BPR notice.

A number of Tennessee-licensed lawyers have been reinstated after being administratively suspended for failure to meet CLE requirements in 2010, 2012 and 2013; failure to submit the 2012 and 2013 annual BPR fee; and failure to submit the 2012 IOLTA report. They are now noted as reinstated. See the updated lists at the links above.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order March 5 suspending 11 lawyers who assumed inactive status but did not pay 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.

Michael Lee West was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on March 18 upon finding that he misappropriated finds to his own use. Download the BPR notice.