Sumner County lawyer Ramsdale O’DeNeal Jr. received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 11. The court found that O’DeNeal, while representing a client in a criminal matter, accepted a flat fee for services but later requested the client pay an additional $1,000. O’DeNeal did not receive informed consent to change the fee. The client paid the fee, but during the disciplinary investigation, O’DeNeal refunded the $1,000 to the client. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5 and 1.8.

Shelby County lawyer Brian Chadwick Rickman received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 11. The court found that Rickman, while representing a client in a car wreck matter, agreed to a settlement offer from the defendant without his client’s knowledge or approval. Rickman also failed to respond to the disciplinary complaint. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16 and 8.1.

On Oct. 3, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Samuel Ervin White to the active practice of law. White was temporarily suspended by the Supreme Court of Tennessee for misappropriating funds for his personal use and posing a threat of substantial harm to the public. White sought to dissolve the temporary suspension and a hearing was held before a three-member disciplinary panel on Aug. 31. On Sept. 27, the panel recommended dissolution of the temporary suspension with conditions.

Campbell County lawyer Terry Matthew Basista received a public censure today from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Basista won an award of child support for his client by agreement of the parties during a hearing in Claiborne County Chancery Court on July 21, 2015. The court found that he failed to file an order for over two years and failed to stay abreast of the case, resulting in an order of closure being filed on August 18, 2017. By these acts, Basista violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4 and 3.2.

James Arthur Graham Jr., an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana but not in Tennessee, received a public censure on Oct. 5 from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Graham filed an application for comity admission in Tennessee and was authorized to practice law “pending admission” in Tennessee under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, §10.07. Graham later withdrew his application for comity admission and was informed that his ability to practice “pending admission” had been revoked. Graham stated on his website for approximately 60 days after that point that he was licensed in Tennessee, which was a false statement and resulted in potential harm to the public.

Shelby County lawyer Darryl Wayne Humphrey was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 3 for failing to comply with conditions imposed on him as part of a suspension on Sept. 25, 2017. His actions were determined to violate Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(d) and 8.4(g).

Davidson County lawyer Charles Martin Duke was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 6. The court found that while representing a client in connection with an ancillary probate matter, Duke failed to pursue the client’s legal objectives, and did not maintain good communication with his client. The court also found that he failed to notify his client that he was suspended from the practice of law on May 9, 2022. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 3.4(c) and 8.4(g).

Montgomery County lawyer Robert Louis Booker was permanently disbarred from the practice of law today. The court found that Booker, in representing a client in a contested divorce, charged a $3,200.00 non-refundable fee without a written agreement, or alternatively failed to deposit the fee into an IOLTA account as a retainer and bill against it. In addition, Booker failed to explain the scope of his representation to his client, and because he did not have a written fee agreement, failed to have proper grounds to withdraw based upon the assertion that the client failed to make payments as agreed. Finally, the court found that Booker impermissibly disclosed confidential information pertaining to the client in his motion to withdraw and failed to respond to letters from the Board of Professional Responsibility seeking a response to the complaint. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5(b)(f), 1.15, 1.16(b)(5), 1.6, 8.1(b) and 8.4(a)(d).

Two lawyers recently were reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee after being on inactive status. They are: Rhea County lawyer Lee R. Thurman and Knox County lawyer Robert Thomas Weaver. Read about their specific cases in the Tennessee Supreme Court orders linked above.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today transferred the law license of Davidson County lawyer Travis Waymon Tipton to disability inactive status. Tipton may not practice law but may petition the court to return to the practice of law by showing his disability has been removed.