Murfreesboro lawyer Derek A. Artrip was reinstated to the practice of law on Aug. 16 subject to several conditions. The Supreme Court directed him to comply with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 18; engage a practice monitor; continue group therapy sessions with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program; and pay the costs of the disciplinary proceeding. Artrip was suspended in July for failing to respond to a complaint of misconduct. He petitioned for reinstatement after submitting a response. Download the BPR notice

The Tennessee Supreme Court placed two lawyers on disability inactive status yesterday (Aug. 21). They are Williamson County lawyer Charles C. Morrow and Orlando, Fla., lawyer Michael Peters. Neither may practice law while on inactive status. Either may petition the court to return to active status upon showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and that he is fit to resume the practice of law.

Nashville lawyer Karl E. Pulley was publicly censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court Aug. 16. He submitted a conditional guilty plea, and was found in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct by failing to diligently represent clients, by failing to adequately communicate with clients and by failing to promptly respond to inquiries from the Board of Professional Responsibility. Download the BPR release

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 13 suspended Lake County lawyer Guy Steven Davis for a definite period of one year (retroactive to a temporary suspension imposed on Oct. 10, 2011) and indefinitely until he complies with his Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) monitoring agreement for at least six months. The court allowed Davis to return to the practice of law in August 2010, but conditioned reinstatement on TLAP compliance. The court recently found that Davis failed to comply with that condition. Download the BPR notice

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week issued two new orders suspending Tennessee-licensed attorneys who did not pay their 2012 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. See the updated lists and download the orders

Seven Tennessee-licensed lawyers have been reinstated after being administratively suspended for CLE noncompliance in 2011, CLE noncompliance in 2009, failure to file the 2010 registration fee and 2011 registration fee, and failure to file the 2012 registration fee and/or required IOLTA report. See updated lists at the links above.

Three out-of-state lawyers had their Tennessee law licenses reactivated on Aug. 8. They are Kimberly J. Dobbs, Montgomery, Ala.; Jeffrey L. Ingram, Birmingham, Ala.; and Jane Hyatt Thorpe, Alexandria, Va.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 1 suspended the law license of Weakley County attorney Kyle Eric Crowe for three years, but allowed him to serve all time on probation if he makes restitution to his trust account, returns clients’ funds, does not engage in solo practice, terminates his access to client funds, and extends his Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring agreement. If he fails to comply with these terms, probation will be revoked. The court took the action after it found that Crowe misappropriated funds and failed to reconcile and properly disburse trust funds. Download the BPR notice

The law license of Rogersville attorney John Douglas Godbee was temporarily suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday after the court determined that he poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Download the BPR release

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended the law license of Wilson County attorney Gary Wayne Vandever yesterday based on his pleading guilty to three counts of theft of property over $60,000. The court further ordered the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline. Download the BPR release