The Tennessee Supreme Court last week dismissed a petition for reinstatement from Sumner County lawyer Ronnie Huggins. The court took the action after the Board of Professional Responsibility reported that Huggins had not satisfied outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education, had not paid the required reinstatement fee and remained in default of a student loan. On April 13, the court gave Huggins until May 29 to satisfy these obligations. Because the obligations were not met, the court dismissed the motion without prejudice.

Shelby County lawyer Robert Harris Golder was suspended from the practice of law today for two years with three months being an active suspension pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 12.2, and the remainder served on probation conditioned upon engagement of a practice monitor, payment of Board costs, and payment of restitution. The disciplinary action involved three separate complaints. The hearing panel found the Golder's conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.15 (safekeeping funds and property), 3.2 (expediting litigation), 3.4 (c) (fairness to opposing party and counsel) and 8.4(a) (misconduct). Golder must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 28 and 30.4, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys and the procedure for reinstatement.

The state Supreme Court today permanently disbarred Virginia lawyer Robert R. Rexrode from the practice of law in Tennessee. The court took the action after the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility found that Rexrode engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in West Virginia, knowingly engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, and failed to cooperate in the investigation of a disciplinary complaint. His actions were determined to violate West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5 (b)(2), 8.1 and 8.4(c) and (d).

Knox County lawyer Troy Lee Bowlin was reinstated to the practice of law yesterday. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned the reinstatement on continued compliance with an order of enforcement entered April 20. Bowlin was suspended that day for three years with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the rest on probation. On May 10, he filed a petition to terminate the period of active suspension. The Board of Professional Responsibility found the petition to be satisfactory and submitted a reinstatement order to the court.

Davidson County lawyer Marian Boyle Greer was reinstated to the practice of law Friday. She had been on inactive status since May 18, 2014. The Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the petition for reinstatement and stated that is was satisfactory. The reinstatement will be effective as of April 26.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Maury County lawyer James Michael Marshall for one year. The court took the action based on two complaints. In one matter, the court found that Marshall failed to prepare and file an order reflecting the trial court’s ruling (resulting in contempt charges being filed against his client), failed to timely address an order of protection or advise his client of the ramifications of cohabitation, failed to fully advise his client that dismissal of a divorce complaint would not affect the pending counter-complaint for divorce filed by his wife, and failed to timely withdraw as attorney of record after closing his file. In a second matter, Marshall created a conflict of interest by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with his client during the representation. Marshall submitted a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.7 and 1.16.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Rutherford County lawyer Gary Neil Patton from the practice of law for one year, with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court took the action after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that Patton failed to reasonably communicate with his client; collected a fee for work he performed without filing a motion for approval of the fee in violation of the rules of the Probate Court; failed to maintain client funds in his trust account prior to receiving approval of the court; obtained a release of liability from his client without advising his client in writing of the desirability of seeking independent counsel; and engaged in unprofessional conduct through inappropriate conversations with his client His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8 (h) and 1.15. The court did find that Patton deposited the fee he had received when ordered to do so.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Davidson County lawyer Christopher Roberts Kelly from the practice of law on May 19 after finding that Kelly failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct.

Knox County lawyer Jonathan William Doolan was temporarily suspended from the practice of law in Tennessee on May 19. The court took the action after finding that Doolan failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning two complaints of misconduct. Supreme Court Rule 9 provides for the immediate summary suspension of an attorney’s license in cases of an attorney’s failure to respond to a complaint of misconduct.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today placed Davidson County lawyer Cristy Ann Braun on disability inactive status. Attorneys on disability inactive status may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement to active status after showing their disability has been removed.