The Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 27 suspended Davidson County lawyer Michael Lloyd Freeman from the practice of law for six years with four years to be served on active suspension and the remaining two years to be served on probation. Additionally, Freeman must obtain an evaluation by the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP), pay restitution and  engage a practice monitor. A hearing panel found that during the representation of multiple clients, Freeman acted outside the scope of representation, acted in a way that was prejudicial to the administration of justice, and failed to protect client funds, communicate with clients, and act competently and diligently. These actions were found to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.15, 1.16, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.

On Feb. 24, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Sullivan County lawyer Ricky A.W. Curtis to the active practice of law. Curtis was temporarily suspended on Jan. 22 for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. The board confirmed that the petition for reinstatement was satisfactory.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 20 suspended 71 attorneys who did not pay the annual professional privilege tax as required. The attorneys include those living in Tennessee as well as 11 other states. View the order or see the list with reinstatements noted. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

On Feb. 20, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Rutherford County lawyer Dalen L.P. Farmer to the active practice of law. Farmer was temporarily suspended on Jan. 22 for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a misconduct complaint. Farmer filed a petition for dissolution of the suspension on Feb. 12, showing he had responded to the complaint. The board found the petition to be satisfactory.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Knox County lawyer Loring Edwin Justice from the practice of law for four years on Feb. 19. The court imposed the discipline after finding that Justice and his firm entered into a fee agreement without client authorization, charged excessive and unreasonable fees that were unsupported by billing records, abused the fiduciary relationship with the client, failed to reasonably communicate with or diligently represent a client, failed to protect his client’s interests after withdrawal or termination, and engaged in misconduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. On Dec. 3, 2025, Justice entered into a conditional guilty plea that he violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.8, 1.16 and 8.4(c).

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 17 referred the case of Knox County lawyer Dianne Elizabeth Lashmit to the Board of Professional Responsibility for it to “evaluate the facts and circumstances” of the case and proceed “as appropriate.” From September 2013 to January 2024, Lashmit was employed as a Blount County Juvenile Court magistrate. Last fall she pleaded guilty to failure to report child abuse in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-412. She eventually disclosed the information to police. As part of her plea, she received a one-year suspended sentence and judicial diversion.

On Feb. 17, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Loudon County attorney William Anthony Paxton from the practice of law for one year, with the entire suspension stayed if Paxton refrains from further misconduct and complies with a Nov. 25, 2025, order from the Supreme Court of Ohio. On Jan. 7, the Tennessee Supreme Court entered a notice of reciprocal discipline directing Paxton to demonstrate why it should not impose the same discipline imposed by the state of Ohio. The court notes that Paxton did not respond to its order. He also must comply with requirements regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys and the procedure for reinstatement.

The Tennessee Supreme Court permanently disbarred Knox County attorney Darren Vincent Berg from the practice of law on Feb. 17. The court also ordered Berg to pay restitution of $65,000 to two former clients. The court determined that in 11 separate matters, Berg engaged in ethical misconduct that involved failure to provide competent representation, act within the scope and authority communicated by clients, act with reasonable diligence, communicate with clients, properly terminate representation, expedite litigation, and provide legal services after accepting substantial fees. The court also found that he charged unreasonable fees, engaged in conflicts of interest, knowingly relied on non-meritorious claims, made false statements to courts and parties, engaged in improper communication with represented parties, engaged in the unauthorized practice of law after suspension of his license, repeatedly abandoned clients and their cases, and engaged in conduct involving deceit or dishonesty and prejudice to the administration of justice. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.16, 3.1-3.5, 4.2, 4.4, 5.5, 8.1 and 8.4(b) – (d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Putnam County lawyer Stephanie Branam Johnson from the practice of law on Feb. 13 after finding she failed to respond to a complaint of misconduct. Johnson is immediately precluded from accepting new cases and must cease representing existing clients by March 15. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

North Carolina lawyer John Charles Bircher III was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Feb. 9. Bircher was placed on inactive status more than five years ago on Sept. 5, 2018. The Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed his petition for reinstatement and found it be appropriate. The court issued the order on Feb. 12.