The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday (Sept. 17) suspended eight lawyers who did not pay their annual 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. Those who have complied with the rules since the orders were issued, and for whom notification of a status change has been received from the Board of Professional Responsibility, are noted as reinstated. Download the order.

Waverly lawyer James Phillips Bradley was reinstated to the practice of law on Aug. 4 after completing his suspension and satisfying conditions that were to be completed prior to reinstatement. Download the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Knoxville lawyer Steven Edward Sams on Sept. 12 after finding that he had failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice.

Sumner County lawyer Kenneth Scott Williamson was temporarily suspended on Sept. 6 after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that his continued practice of law posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. In 2010, Williamson began working with the U.S. Freedom Foundation, an organization claiming to assist federal prisoners with legal services. Williamson drafted pleadings and appeared in court on behalf of several clients. Williamson alleges he left the foundation in 2011, however, the organization has continued to accept fees and file pleadings under his signature and Williams has not withdrawn from the cases in which he entered appearances. The suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. Download the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Davidson County lawyer Donald Ashworth Cox Jr. to disability inactive status on Sept. 6 pursuant to Section 21 of Supreme Court Rule 9. Cox may not practice law while on disability status. He may petition for reinstatement by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law. Download the BPR notice.

Shawn Patrick Sirgo received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on Aug. 12 for practicing law while his license was suspended. Download the BPR notice.

James Henry Ford received a public censure on Aug. 7. Flood entered a fee contract with his client which stated he would receive a fee of 25 percent of past due social security benefits owed to the client. The client made periodic payments to Flood to be held for expenses or for satisfaction of the contingency fee. Flood received six payments from the client, and failed to deposit three of the payments into his trust account. An overdraft resulted in Flood's trust account when he wrote a check to himself for the earned fees. In another matter, Flood earned an attorney fee in May 2012 and failed to remove the fee from his trust account for more than seven months. Download the BPR notice.

Jill R. Talley received a public censure on Aug. 7 for harming a client whom she represented in a divorce. Talley filed a motion and affidavit to withdraw in which she stated that “there have been several instances where [client] has not been completely truthful concerning certain issues, including her actions, in the case.” Download the BPR notice.

H. Owen Maddux of Chattanooga was suspended on Aug. 9 for nine months for allegedly committing ethical misconduct in his representation of plaintiffs in a civil action regarding a business dispute. In an effort to collect money due to the company, Maddux sent letters to customers demanding that payment be made directly to him and that he would deposit the funds with the court pending a resolution, however he instead gave the money to his client. Further, Maddux did not notify the opposing party that the funds had been collected until after he made the distribution to his client and a motion had been filed seeking payment of the funds into the court. Download the BPR notice.

Nashville attorney William Alan Alder was suspended on Aug. 7 for two years, with the suspension to run consecutively with a one-year suspension imposed on Dec. 28, 2012. The Tennessee Supreme Court found that Alder failed to diligently handle two lawsuits, failed to communicate adequately with clients and made a misrepresentation to one client. In addition to imposing the suspension, the court directed him to make restitution to a client, consult with Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program and pay the Board of Professional Responsibility’s costs in this matter. Download the BPR notice.