The law license of Penny Jo Mills was transferred to disability inactive status on March 12. Mills may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume practice. Download the BPR notice.

The law license of Davidson County lawyer Frank A. Woods was transferred to disability inactive status pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 yesterday. He cannot practice law while on disability inactive status, but may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Read the court's news release.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee reinstated the law license of Nashville lawyer Lee Michael Sprouse yesterday. He had been temporarily suspended on Feb. 4 for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. A hearing panel recommended to the court that the temporary suspension be dissolved. Read the court's news release.

The law license of Russell Dale Mays was transferred to disability inactive status on Feb. 25. Mays 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. Download the BPR notice.

On Feb. 25, Edward L. Swinger was temporarily suspended from the practice of law for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice.

In a unanimous opinion released last Friday, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the disbarment of Memphis attorney George E. Skouteris Jr. for violating multiple rules of professional conduct. The court found that in handling six personal injury lawsuits between 2007 and 2011, Skouteris failed to safeguard clients’ funds in his trust account after settling their cases. The decision upholds a determination made by a Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel as well as the Shelby County Chancery Court. In an opinion authored by Justice Sharon G. Lee, the Supreme Court found that the disbarment was not arbitrary, was supported by the evidence, and that any procedural errors were of no consequence due to the extent and severity of the misconduct.

Spence Roberts Bruner was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on Feb. 19 for failing to respond to the board regarding a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice.

The law license of William Walter Burton Jr. was transferred to disability inactive status on Feb. 13. Burton 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. Download the BPR notice.

The law license of Michael D. Kellum was reinstated after suspension for 33 months with credit for 22 months served. Download the BPR notice.

On Feb. 13, Elizabeth Catherine Cox received a public censure for failing to communicate with her client about the status of a post-trial motion for consideration in a divorce matter and later alleged to her client and the Board that she had timely filed the motion but that the judge had denied the motion without a hearing. After an investigation, it was determined that Cox had never filed the motion. Download the BPR notice.