Nashville lawyer Parrish B. Stanton has been reinstated to the practice of law by order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered May 22. He was suspended on Oct. 14, 2010, for 18 months, retroactive to 2009. The reinstatement maintains that he must attend support groups with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program twice a month for one year; attend 10 of the required continuing legal education hours in the subject area of criminal law; and engage a practice monitor for one year. Download the BPR release

Knoxville lawyer David A. Lufkin Sr. was reinstated to the practice of law on May 15. He had been suspended on Aug.18, 2009, for a period of two years, retroactive to Oct. 17, 2006. On Aug. 25, 2011, he filed a petition for reinstatement. The Supreme Court granted his request but also imposed a requirement that he engage a practice monitor for one year and pay the costs of the proceeding. Download the court's notice

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

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. The lists reflect lawyers not in compliance as of their March birthdates. Previous orders covered lawyers with January birthdates. See the updated lists and download the orders

The law license of Chattanooga lawyer Lori Ann Spencer was transferred to disability inactive status on on April 26 by the Tennessee Supreme Court, pursuant to Section 21 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9. Download the BPR release

The Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred Nashville lawyer Bennett Farris Bratcher, pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 18.5. The court issued the order April 26 for the disbarment that will become effective May 6. Bratcher consented to disbarment because he could not successfully defend himself against complaints filed with the board alleging that he misappropriated funds relating to the representation of three clients. His actions violated Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, Section 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation). Download the BPR release

Memphis lawyer Michael Brandon Barber was suspended April 26 for five years by the Tennessee Supreme Court for neglecting the representation of several former clients and ultimately abandoned his practice. By the aforementioned acts, he violated Rules 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.16 (terminating representation), 3.2 (expediting litigation), 8.1 (bar admission and disciplinary matters), and 8.4(a), (c), and (d) (misconduct) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Download the BPR release

Memphis Lawyer Javier Michael Bailey was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court today and ordered to pay restitution to 17 people totaling $29,867. Bailey entered a conditional guilty plea that he failed to properly communicate with clients, failed to exercise appropriate diligence on client’s cases, failed to appear for a hearing, failed to follow court orders and made misrepresentations to the court. He also was held in criminal contempt in three cases and sentenced to serve time in jail and/or pay a fine due to his failure to timely file briefs and comply with court directives. Download the BPR release for more details.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on April 18 suspended Nashville lawyer Matthew Fort Mayo for one year, retroactive to January 31, 2011. However, Mayo remains suspended for noncompliance with CLE requirements and for failure to file certification that funds are held in an IOLTA account. The court found that Mayo failed to respond to a complaint of misconduct, failed to timely file documents, failed to timely file or properly serve a brief, and failed to appear for a client’s sentencing hearings. Download the BPR notice

Shelby County lawyer Wendy Nicole Villafana was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 18 for failing to file a client's application for cancellation of deportation, failing to diligently prepare for a hearing, failing to promptly inform the client about alleged weaknesses in the case and failing to respond to the client's requests for information. The court found she violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4. Read the BPR release