John E. Clemmons’ law license has been temporarily suspended. The Tennessee Supreme Court found that Clemmons misappropriated funds to his own use and that his continued practice of law poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Effective April 2, Clemmons is precluded from accepting any new cases and he must cease representing existing clients by May 2. Download the BPR notice.

Attorney Marin L. Howe of Dyersburg was suspended April 5 based upon 11 client complaints alleging he accepted fees and then neglected client’s cases and that he failed to communicate with clients and the Board. Another complaint was filed for his failure to provide the Court with advance notice of his suspension for noncompliance with continuing legal education requirement. Download the BPR notice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on April 1 issued two orders suspending Tennessee-licensed attorneys who did not pay their registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility, and those who did not pay the fee and also 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. Lawyers who since have complied with the requirements are noted as reinstated. See the updated lists and download the orders.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has ordered the Board of Professional Responsibility to vacate suspensions for two lawyers after finding that the board did not provide the required notice. In the first case, the court vacated a suspension imposed on Davidson County lawyer Lora Jackson Manson on June 26, 2012, for failure to file the 2012 annual fee and IOLTA report. In the second case, the court vacated the suspension against Shelby County attorney John Michael Bailey, who had been suspended on Oct. 9, 2012, for failure to file the 2012 IOLTA report. Download the revised orders.

Eight Tennessee-licensed lawyers have been reinstated after being administratively suspended for failure to complete CLE requirements in 2012, file the annual BPR registration fee and/or the required IOLTA report in 2012, and pay the 2012 professional privilege tax. See the updated lists at the links above.

The law license of Nashville lawyer Philip K. Lyon was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 22 for one year. The court also ordered Lyon to enter into a secured promissory note payable to a former client in the amount of $42,500 and make full restitution to the client before being reinstated. The court acted after Lyon self-reported improper handling of his trust account funds, failure to protect client property, and use of funds for his own benefit. He was found to have violated Supreme Court Rules 1.15 (b) and (d) and 8.4(a), (b) and (c). Download the BPR notice

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended the law license of Davidson County lawyer James D. McWilliams on March 19 based upon his plea of guilty to the serious crime of felony child abuse. The court also ordered the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline. Download the BPR notice.

On Feb. 26 and March 11, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended a number of Tennessee-licensed attorneys who did not pay their annual registration fee to the Board of Professional Responsibility and 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. See the lists and download the orders on the TBA website.

Colorado lawyer Philip M. Kleinsmith, who is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 4. The censure was imposed as reciprocal discipline after he was reprimanded and placed on probation for one year in Colorado. However, the Colorado Supreme Court made early termination possible if Kleinsmith completed an ethics program it provided. The court has now reported that Kleinsmith successfully completed that program and the probation has been removed. Download the BPR release.

The law license of Hamilton County lawyer Jeffrey A. Stinnett was transferred to disability inactive status on March 1. Stinnett may not practice law while on inactive status but he may petition the court for reinstatement by providing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law. Download the BPR notice