Florida lawyer Jessica Rose Sievert was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on July 7 after being on inactive status since May 20, 2015. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported that the petition for reinstatement was satisfactory and the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted the order on July 10.

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Sumner County lawyer Andy Lamar Allman from the practice of law on July 11 and ordered him to pay restitution to certain complainants and all costs incurred by the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). The court found that Allman failed to provide competent and diligent representation to complainants; failed to keep them informed about their respective cases; charged certain clients an unreasonable fee; engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while suspended; failed to respond to the BPR regarding disciplinary complaints; failed to notify clients of his suspension from the practice of law; and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation while representing clients. Allman filed a petition for review, which the trial court dismissed with prejudice. The court found that Allman's conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16, 5.5, 8.1 and 8.4. In 2018, Allman was disbarred in June and again on July 13 and July 30. In 2023, the Supreme Court rejected a motion from the BPR seeking additional information in its disciplinary investigation, directing it only to determine the extent of final discipline to be imposed.

DeKalb County lawyer Lena Ann Graves Buck was publicly censured on July 9 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Buck provided consultation regarding a workers’ compensation case to a client. Despite the client not signing a retainer agreement nor paying an attorney fee, Buck met with the client on three occasions during which she provided legal advice. Buck discussed the workers’ compensation issue with the client at two of the meetings, but did not apprise the client of a statute of limitations deadline. Over the next three years, Buck represented the client on a disability claim, though the client believed Buck also was handling the workers’ compensation matter. The client did not discover the statute of limitations had passed until several years later. In addition to these findings, the court determined that Buck entered into a business transaction with the client without first advising the client in writing of the desirability of seeking, or giving a reasonable opportunity to seek the advice of, independent legal counsel. The court found that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.8(a)(2) and 8.4(d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a public censure to Davidson County attorney Zachary Ty Carden on July 9. The court found that Carden, while representing a client in a contested divorce action, failed to take proper action to submit his client’s discovery responses, resulting in the entry of a judgment against his client for opposing counsel’s fees. After the divorce action settled through mediation, the court found that Carden failed to take action to facilitate entry of the final divorce decree and did not respond to his client’s requests for information, delaying finalization of the divorce action. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4 and 3.2.

Kentucky lawyer Michael James Thompson received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 9. The court found that while representing a client in a custody proceeding, Thompson exchanged sexualized communications with the client, which created a conflict of interest. The court also determined that Thompson communicated with the client about the custody proceeding through Instagram messaging, which did not include any privacy controls. It imposed the censure in Tennessee for violations of Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct 1.6 (protecting confidential information) and 1.7(a)(2) (concurrent conflict of interest).

Wayne County lawyer Joshua Howard Polk received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 9. After agreeing to represent clients in a water rights case, a third party joined the litigation. Polk determined that a conflict of interest was created by the new party, which mandated his withdrawal. While the court said it was reasonable for Polk to help his clients identify subsequent counsel, it found that he waited 14 months to withdraw. This resulted in unnecessary delay in the litigation, halting progress on the case and postponing a hearing on the opposing party’s motion for summary judgment. The court determined that his actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.7(a)(2), 1.16(a). 3.2 and 8.4(d).

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for administrative violations. Two lawyers have been reinstated after completing required continuing legal education hours (one in 2023 and one in 2024). Two lawyers have been reinstated after paying the annual registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility (one in 2010 and one in 2024). One lawyer was reinstated after paying the 2024 professional privilege tax. One lawyer was reinstated after being suspended in 2016 for not paying the inactive fee. And one lawyer was reinstated after being suspended in 2011 for failure to meet IOLTA requirements. The TBA has records of all administrative suspensions and reinstatements going back to 2005. See all lists here.

On July 3, Shelby County lawyer Darryl Wayne Humphrey received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that after taking over representation of a personal injury client in a colleague’s absence, Humphrey negligently failed to file all discovery responses and reply to opposing counsel’s discovery inquiries. This led to a motion to compel being filed against the client. Humphrey then failed to notify the client of the motion and of the subsequent court ruling that the client pay the opposing party’s attorney fees. The court also found that the failure to maintain communication with opposing counsel resulted in injury or potential injury to the client. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4(a) and 8.4(d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 25 suspended 11 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; three of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2025 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

On June 25, Davidson County lawyer Robert Greene received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. While representing clients in defense of a lawsuit, Greene made an error in calendaring the trial date, which led him and his clients to not appear for trial and the court to enter a default judgment. The Supreme Court found that Greene was not forthright in subsequent communications with the clients about the trial date was missed. He then filed a motion to set aside the default judgment. The court found that the motion was frivolous as it was untimely filed and did not recite any legal authorities to support tolling of the statutory deadline. In an affidavit, Greene falsely claimed that the trial date was missed due to confusion with opposing counsel. He later filed a motion to withdraw that falsely claimed the clients had failed to provide certain documentation. He then paid a significant portion of the judgment out of personal funds, without prior notice or consent from his clients. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.8(e), 1.16(d), 3.1, 3.3(a)(1) and 8.4.