The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Knox County lawyer Melvin Jacob Werner from the practice of law on May 19. The court took the action based on two separate complaints of ethical misconduct and after finding that Werner committed fraud; made false representations of fact; knowingly violated Massachusetts law by engaging in unlawful, unfair or deceptive acts or practices; misled a client to induce her into entering a fraudulent investment agreement, resulting in a loss to the client of $650,000.00; misappropriated and converted client funds without the client’s knowledge or consent; impermissibly commingled client and personal funds; and made knowing misrepresentations of fact to his client. These actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 and 8.4(c).

Shelby County lawyer Alisha Irene Wyatt was reinstated to the practice of law on May 14 after being on inactive status for more than five years. The Board of Professional Responsibility found that Wyatt’s petition for reinstatement was satisfactory. The court issued the order on May 16.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Knox County lawyer Linn Marie Guerrero from the practice of law on May 16 for five years, with two years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation with conditions. During the probation period, Guerrero must engage a practice monitor and pay all costs and expenses of the disciplinary proceeding. The court took the action based on five separate complaints of misconduct. It found that Guerrero engaged in conduct that involved significant conflicts of interest between clients in adverse positions, entered into fee agreements without client authorization, charged excessive and unreasonable fees unsupported by billing records, and abused her fiduciary relationship. Guerrero also failed to reasonably communicate with or diligently represent clients, failed to protect client’s interests after withdrawing and abandoned client matters without returning the client’s property or otherwise protecting their interests. Guerrero agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging she violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1,7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.16, 3.2 and 8.4(c) and (d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred McMinn County attorney Joseph Houston Crabtree Jr. from the practice of law on May 16. The court determined that in a personal injury matter, Crabtree abandoned his client and pending litigation, failed to respond to subsequent communications from his client and failed to turn over the client’s file to successor counsel. Further, when Crabtree was suspended from the practice of law on Nov. 22, 2022, for an unrelated matter, he failed to notify either his client or opposing counsel of the suspension. Finally, the court found that Crabtree failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding the disciplinary complaints. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4(c), 8.1(b) and 8.4(g).

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Anderson County lawyer Robert Mike Sain to the practice of law effective May 9. The court issued notice of the reinstatement on May 13. The court previously had asked Sain to satisfy outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education, which he now has done. Sain was placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Feb. 17, 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended California attorney Dale Gerard Nowicki from the practice of law in Tennessee for two years, with 90 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation with certain conditions. The court took the action on May 13 after the Supreme Court of California imposed the same discipline on Jan. 6. The Tennessee court made the action retroactive to the date of the California order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Hamilton County lawyer Arthur C. Grisham Jr. from the practice of law for five years on May 13. The court took the action based on complaints from two clients that he failed to reasonably communicate with clients regarding the status of their case; act in a diligent manner; expedite clients’ litigation; abide by court orders; provide required information to successor attorneys; and safeguard client funds. He also charged unreasonable fees and abused his position as an executor by withdrawing estate funds without court order, which caused estate insolvency. Grisham agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4. The court also imposed a condition on any future reinstatement, requiring Grisham to pay restitution to the clients. Also, following any reinstatement, he must use a practice monitor for one year.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on April 30 directed Anderson County lawyer Robert Mike Sain to satisfy outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education by June 16 or face dismissal of his petition for reinstatement. Sain petitioned the court for reinstatement on April 7.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Sullivan County lawyer John Sidney McLellan III to disability inactive status on May 13. McLellan may not practice law while on inactive status but may seek reinstatement by showing that the disability has been removed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Sumner County lawyer Loretta Madeline Calvert to disability inactive status on May 13. Calvert may not practice law while on inactive status but may seek reinstatement by showing that the disability has been removed.