The Tennessee Supreme Court censured Rutherford County lawyer Kirk D. Catron on Jan. 14. Catron represented a client in a child support modification and did no work on the matter for 14 months. He then recommended the client settle the matter, and he provided a proposed order for the client’s review which included a blank child support worksheet. The client declined to agree until he saw proof of income of the mother. The next day, however, Catron entered the order without notifying his client or providing a copy to him. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.2 and 8.4(d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court censured Hamilton County lawyer Cindy Powell Bice on Jan. 14. The court reports that while representing a client in a child support modification case, Bice disclosed confidential information and failed to withdraw from representation in a timely manner in violation of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.6(a), 1.9(c) and 1.16(a)(3) and (d). After the client posted a negative online public Google Review of Bice’s legal services, Bice posted a public response with detailed confidential information about the client, including references to payment for legal services, a contempt action for failure to pay child support, the client’s disability, the hearing date and attorney-client communications. The court also found that between 2015 and 2023, Bice posted online responses to four negative client reviews, revealing confidential information about former clients’ representation, including disclosure of fee amounts paid, legal advice given, actions/inactions by the clients, and other information. In addition to the censure, the court ordered Bice to complete three extra hours of CLE about client confidentiality and online/social media use within 90 days.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended White County lawyer John Edward Hutson from the practice of law for two years, with six months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court conditioned the probation on compliance with a Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) contract and the engagement of a practice monitor for six months following reinstatement. The suspension was imposed in response to one complaint that Hutson knowingly provided financial assistance to a client; entered into a business transaction with the client to obtain services for repayment of the funds; and made overtures and requests for a personal relationship with the client, which materially limited his representation of the client and was prejudicial to the administration of justice. The court determined that these actions violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7(a)(2), 1.8 and 8.4(a) and (d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 3 rejected a reinstatement request from Florida lawyer Katherine Kemp. On Oct. 25, 2024, Kemp filed a petition for reinstatement of her Tennessee law license. After the court determined she had outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education, it issued an order on Nov. 8, 2024, directing her to resolve those obligation by Dec. 3, 2024. The court now reports that Kemp failed to satisfy her outstanding obligations by the deadline and therefore her petition for reinstatement has been dismissed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a public censure to Montgomery County lawyer Cleo Greer Hogan on Jan. 8. Hogan represented two clients in pursuing social security disability benefits when he received notice from the Social Security Administration of the denial of each client’s request for reconsideration of their claims. The court found that due to inadequate case management protocols, Hogan missed the appeal deadline for both clients. After discovering the error, Hogan told both clients that their only option was to file a new application rather than advise the clients that he could request a good cause extension of the appeal deadline. The court determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 5.1, 5.3 and 8.4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued a public censure to Kentucky lawyer Darren Craig Lamb. A complaint was filed by an individual formerly in a romantic relationship with Lamb. Following the end of the relationship, the individual sought and was granted a temporary order of protection. The court found that Lamb violated the order by repeatedly contacting the individual, including posting notice of a suit for nonpayment of a personal loan on the individual’s front door. The suit was never filed but Lamb completed the section of the form normally filled out by the court clerk’s office to create the false impression that a suit was pending. Lamb was charged with harassment, stalking and contempt charges. He entered a no contest plea and received judicial diversion. The court determined that his actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 4.1 and 8.4(b), (c), (d) and (g). The court conditioned the censure on compliance with a Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) monitoring agreement.

On Monday, Carter County lawyer Jason Lee Holly received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Holly represented one client in a custody case, another client in a breach of contract case and a third client in a criminal case. In all three cases, the court found that he failed to take proper action on behalf of his clients, failed to communicate with his clients and failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation. The court also found that Holly failed to respond to requests for information from disciplinary counsel and did not refund fees to any of his three clients. Holly was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on Oct. 27, 2024, for failing to respond to three disciplinary complaints. He was required to notify all clients of the suspension no later than 10 days after the order, which he failed to do. Holly has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 3.2, 3.4, 8.1 and 8.4. Additionally, as a condition of the censure, Holly must refund a total of $5,500 in attorney’s fees within 60 days.

Shelby County lawyer Myra Ann Hamilton on Monday received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Hamilton represented a client in a discrimination matter, during which she filed pleadings containing non-meritorious claims and disclosed confidential client information in support of her request to withdraw. Hamilton entered a conditional guilty plea acknowledging her conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.6 and 3.1.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has reinstated Florida lawyer Robert John Grubb II to the practice of law in Tennessee. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on May 1, 2015. Grubb filed a petition for reinstatement and the Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory. The court made the reinstatement retroactive to Dec. 27, 2024.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Georgia lawyer Robert Andrew Free to active status on Dec. 27, effective as of Dec. 19. Free had been placed on inactive status on Oct. 24 pending resolution of a disciplinary matter. The court reports that Free resolved the disciplinary matter on Dec. 19. Prior to being on inactive status, Free was on disability inactive status from fall 2022 to October 2024.