Memphis lawyer Vanessa Gale Keeler was suspended from the practice of law for three years on Aug. 1. She also was ordered to pay restitution to nine clients, be evaluated by the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program or equivalent program, and pay the cost of the disciplinary proceeding. The state Supreme Court took action based on six complaints of misconduct. It found that Keeler evidenced a pattern of failing to communicate with clients, failed to provide her clients with copies of pleadings she prepared on their behalf, failed to exercise appropriate diligence and failed to handle cases in a timely manner. Download the BPR notice

Hamblen County lawyer Andrew Nicholas Wilson was censured on Monday by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. The action was taken based on three complaints filed against Wilson after he left the private practice of law to take a job in state government. Wilson indicated that he would complete his existing cases, but he ceased communicating with his clients and did not perform the work he was retained to do. The board found that he failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to communicate with his clients, failed to expedite litigation, and essentially abandoned his clients. His actions violated Rules of Professional Responsibility 1.3, 1.4, 1.16 and 3.2. Download the BPR notice

Sevier County lawyer William Lee Wheatley received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on Monday. The board found that Wheatley failed to communicate with his client or take reasonable steps to ensure that the client’s interests were protected after he was administratively suspended for failure to comply with CLE requirements. The board also found that he did not refund the client any portion of his fee. The board determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.16. Download the BPR notice

Davidson County lawyer Robert Joseph Turner received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee on Monday. On his website he made claims that were not verifiable; improperly used the word “specialties”; and disclosed the occupations of former clients in violation of client confidentiality. In another matter, he sent a written advertisement to a potential client that stated at the bottom of the letter, “Eligible but not certified as a family law specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization,” which was misleading and violates the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC). Download the BPR release

Roane County lawyer Kent Lowery Booher received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee on Monday. Booher failed to act with reasonable diligence in an estate matter, failed to maintain reasonable communication with his client, failed to expedite litigation, and he misrepresented to Disciplinary Counsel that he had filed a draft accounting and proposed final order with the probate court. By these acts, he violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 3.2 and 8.1(a). Download the BPR release

Sumner County lawyer Randy Paul Lucas received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court today. He represented to his clients on several occasions that he had secured a trial date, but he had not. He made material misrepresentations of fact to his clients and neglected his clients’ case. By these acts, Lucas violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence); 1.4 (communication); 3.2 (expediting litigation); and 8.4 (misconduct). Download the BPR release

Memphis lawyer John Robert Hershberger was publicly censured by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court today. In 2011, Hershberger presented the court with a Petition for Scire Facias and Citation for Contempt. The judge presiding over the case refused to sign the FIAT because Hershberger was represented by counsel. Hershberger researched the issue, decided that the judge’s conclusion was incorrect, and then presented the FIAT to a different judge. He did not inform the new judge that the previous judge had refused to sign the FIAT. Therefore he violated Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, Rules of Professional Conduct 3.3(a)(1)(candor toward tribunal). Download the BPR release

Knoxville lawyer Johnathan Kenneth Borsodi was suspended from the practice of law on July 25 after failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice

Knoxville lawyer Lisa Belle Hatfield received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court today. Her license was suspended for continuing legal education noncompliance and she practiced law for two months while her license was suspended, which constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. Her license was later reinstated when she fulfilled her CLE requirements. Download the BPR release

Knox County lawyer C. Coulter “Bud” Gilbert received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility on July 20 for practicing law for two months while his license was suspended for CLE noncompliance. Also, today, the board released notice that Memphis lawyer Michelle L. Betserai was suspended from the practice of law on July 18 for failing to diligently represent clients, failing to file pleadings in a timely manner, making misrepresentations during testimony as an expert witness, and abandoning her law practice. In addition to imposing the suspension, the Supreme Court ordered her to pay restitution to four clients.