Fifteen Tennessee-licensed lawyers have been reinstated after being administratively suspended for failure to meet 2012 CLE requirements, file the 2010 annual registration fee and file the annual registration fee and/or required IOLTA statement in 2012. See the updated lists at the links above.

In a unanimous ruling released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court found that the Carter County Chancery Court properly disbarred Thomas Ewing Cowan from the practice of law. The court noted that in 2009, Cowan pleaded guilty to willful attempt to evade the payment of taxes and was sentenced to one year in prison and assessed $270,000 in restitution. It also found that Cowan had not acknowledged the seriousness of his misconduct and had a history of ethical violations, including two suspensions, three public reprimands and 15 private admonishments. Download the decision

In a unanimous opinion released on Nov. 16, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the disbarment of Knoxville attorney M. Josiah Hoover III after determining he had caused serious injury to his clients and to the legal system. The court found that in five separate cases, Hoover was negligent in the representation of clients, including failing to ascertain the status of a proceeding prior to filing a proof of claim; failing to file a brief, resulting in dismissal of an appeal; failing to communicate; failing to prepare for a key deposition; failing to abide by court orders and procedural rules; failing to pay monetary sanctions imposed by a court; and filing a frivolous claim on his own behalf. Download the court order or the BPR notice

The Board of Professional Responsibility reported on Nov. 13 that the law license of C. Allen Yates was reactivated on Nov. 8. He is an attorney in Lawrenceville, Ga. Download the BPR notice

Hawkins County attorney John Douglas Godbee was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 15. The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a petition for discipline against Godbee, charging him with official misconduct. It found that while acting as an assistant district attorney, he solicited and/or received sexual favors from female defendants in exchange for consideration in their cases. Download the BPR notice

Sumner County lawyer Michael Scott Collins was publicly censured yesterday by the Tennessee Supreme Court pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 44. Collins entered into a representation agreement with a client that was vague, ambiguous, and without sufficient clarity for the client to understand the scope of Collins’ representation. He also billed the client for work performed by a paralegal without first obtaining the client’s consent. Download the BPR notice.

Davidson County lawyer Hugh Edward Garrett received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility Nov. 6 for failing to render competent representation; failing to act with reasonable diligence; failing to maintain reasonable communication with his client; and failing to take reasonable steps to expedite litigation. He essentially abandoned his client’s case on appeal and ignored the requests of the Court of Criminal Appeals to either file a brief or dismiss the matter, the court said. Download the BPR notice.

Hamilton County lawyer James W. Clements was publicly censured by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 5. In an incident involving a possible claim against a nursing home for neglect of the client’s relative, the board found that Clements violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication) and 8.4 (misconduct). Download the BPR release

Shelby County lawyer Jami Keith Ferrell was publicly censured by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court for failing to comply with the swearing in requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 6 until May 21, 2009. Prior to that time, Ferrell had already opened a law office in Tennessee and launched a website promoting his legal services. Download the BPR notice.

Shelby County lawyer Michael E. Latimore was publicly censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court for not communicating effectively with his client, diligently representing his client’s interest,  informing his client that his license to practice law had been suspended, or not issuing an appropriate refund. Download the BPR notice.