The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Knox County attorney Douglas A. Trant from the practice of law on March 26. Trant was retained by clients in two separate matters to potentially pursue specific legal objectives that were dependent on the outcome of initial research to establish whether they had viable causes of action. In both cases, Trant accepted a fee to conduct initial research, performed only minimal legal research, and discovered that neither client had a meritorious claim or viable cause of action. However, he falsely stated to each client that their cases had merit and accepted more substantial fees to initiate litigation. He took no further action. He never filed a complaint or initiated litigation, ceased all communication, failed to refund the unearned fees, failed to return client files, and abandoned his clients and their cases. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16 and 8.4.

On March 26, the Supreme Court of Tennessee suspended Hawkins County lawyer Gerald Todd Eidson from the practice of law for two years with one year to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation so long as Eidson engages a practice monitor. The court took the action after determining that Eidson failed to provide competent representation to a client, failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness during his representation of the client, and failed to inform the Juvenile Court of an earlier misrepresentation regarding the incarceration status of the client, which resulted in prejudice to the administration of justice. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3 and 8.4(d).

Shelby County lawyer Samuel John Muldavin has received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. In representing two clients in defense of a detainer action, the court found that Muldavin failed to communicate adequately with clients, had no prior experience handling residential landlord tenant matters and did not complete any research of applicable law or otherwise take any action to prepare for trial. He also agreed to the scheduling of trial for calculation of money damages, fees and costs, despite the inadequacy of service of process. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(b) and 3.3(a)(1).

The Tennessee Supreme Court on March 20 suspended 11 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; six of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Recent reinstatements for fee or IOLTA violations include three in 2024. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2025 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Gibson County lawyer Eric Preston Egbert received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 14. The court took the action after finding that he engaged in activity that involved a conflict of interest in violation of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7, 1.9(c) and 8.4(d) and (e). Egbert agreed to represent two individuals in probating the estate of their brother. The principal asset was a parcel of realty located in the county. The clients subsequently decided not to proceed with the probate action, and Egbert closed his file. Some time later Egbert was hired as the delinquent tax attorney for the county. In this capacity, he learned of delinquent taxes on the property and contacted the former clients with an offer to purchase the land. No sale took place, but the court found that the action created a concurrent conflict of interest between Egbert’s role as a real estate investor and as delinquent tax attorney. The court announced the censure on March 24.

On March 12, the Tennessee Supreme Court dismissed a petition for discipline without prejudice against Hawkins County lawyer Terry Risner and struck a notice of submission filed by the board. The court reports that the Board of Professional Responsibility filed a notice to dismiss and withdrawal of notice of submission on March 11. The board had filed a petition for discipline with the court on July 31, 2024. Risner remains suspended based on a March 22, 2024, order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has directed Dale Gerard Nowicki to respond within 30 days why discipline imposed in the state of California should not also be imposed in Tennessee. On Jan. 6, the California Supreme Court imposed two years of probation on Nowicki. The Tennessee court noted in its order that if Nowicki does not respond by the deadline, it will impose discipline "with identical terms and conditions" than what was imposed in California.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the suspension of Shelby County lawyer Daryl A. Gray’s law license. Two complaints were filed against Gray. The first alleged that he improperly handled funds after he settled a client’s personal injury lawsuit by refusing to pay a medical provider’s valid lien and falsely asserting that other medical providers had filed claims. The second, stemming from a different personal injury lawsuit, alleged that Gray filed the action against the wrong defendant, never served the amended complaint on the correct defendant, failed to adequately communicate with his client about a motion to dismiss, and failed to timely withdraw from representation. A Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel determined that Gray violated professional conduct rules and recommended a six-month suspension, with two months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Gray challenged the recommended discipline, claiming it was unfounded, arbitrary, capricious and excessive. The court rejected his arguments and imposed the suspension. Read the BPR's press release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 27 suspended 16 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; eight of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Recent reinstatements for fee or IOLTA violations include 11 in 2025, three in 2024, one in 2023 and one in 2015. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2025 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has reinstated four lawyers who were placed on inactive status more than five years ago: South Carolina lawyer John Errett Buis was reinstated on Feb. 26; Virginia lawyer Shannon H. Chierichella was reinstated on Feb. 18; Georgia lawyer Courtney Christian Sharp was reinstated on March 3; and Shelby County lawyer John Rolfe Windsor Jr. was reinstated on Feb. 27.