Alabama lawyer Janet Monique Okoye was permanently disbarred on Friday by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that Okoye failed to maintain an IOLTA or other trust account in which to keep clients funds; failed to deposit client funds into an IOLTA or other trust account; failed to comply with multiple court orders to deposit funds with the court clerk; knowingly engaged in dishonesty and misrepresentation; failed to respond to requests for information from the Board of Professional Responsibility; and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceeding. The court found that Okoye knowingly violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3; 1.4; 1.15 (a), (c) and (e); 3.4; 8.1(b); and 8.4(c).

On Dec. 28, 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court directed Maury County lawyer Mickie Smith Daugherty to meet certain obligations to avoid dismissal of the reinstatement petition Daugherty filed on Nov. 28, 2022. The Board of Professional Responsibility opposed the petition saying Daugherty had not paid annual registration fees since 2013, had not paid the required delinquency penalty or reinstatement fee, and was not in good standing with the Commission on Continuing Legal Education regarding CLE requirements. The court gave Daugherty until Feb. 10 to satisfy those obligations.

The law license of Davidson County lawyer Leslie Ann Freemon Benmark was reinstated on Dec. 20. Benmark had been placed on inactive status on Dec. 1, 1995. She filed a petition seeking reinstatement in October and the Board of Professional Responsibility determined that reinstatement was appropriate.

Raleigh, North Carolina, lawyer Brett Tyler Smith has been reinstated to practice law in Tennessee. Smith was placed on inactive status on Dec. 2, 2010. He filed a petition seeking reinstatement and the Board of Professional Responsibility determined that the petition was satisfactory. He was reinstated as of Nov. 22. The court issued the order yesterday.

Knox County lawyer Keri Elizabeth Rule recently filed a motion asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to reconsider denying her motion to vacate the court’s November ruling that referred Rule’s petition for reinstatement to a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility. The Supreme Court issued an order today denying Rule’s request for reconsideration. Read the order.

Arizona lawyer James William West, formerly known as David Martin Macaione, was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Oct. 21. His license had been transferred to disability inactive status on July 29, 2022. The court reports that the Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the petition for reinstatement and had no objection to the action.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee last week suspended two additional attorneys for failing to complete annual continuing legal education. View the Dec. 9 order or see the full list online, which notes the attorneys who have complied with the requirements and have been reinstated to date. Access all administrative suspension lists dating back to 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today permanently disbarred Davidson County lawyer David Dwayne Harris from the practice of law. The court found that Harris failed to (1) do any work for his client, (2) reasonably communicate with his client, (3) expedite litigation, (4) deposit fees into a trust accounts, (5) respond to requests from the Board Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint, and (6) participate in the disciplinary proceeding. The court found that he also charged and collected an unreasonable fee. His actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4 , 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 8.1 and 8.4(a).

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a reinstatement petition without prejudice from Jody Rodenborn Troutman, who was suspended from the practice of law on Feb. 3. Troutman was suspended for four years, with one year to be served on active suspension and three years on probation. The court reports that it dismissed the petition because it was filed prematurely.

Louisiana lawyer Darlene Gail Rebowe was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Dec. 5. She had been on inactive status since Nov. 14, 2017. The Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed Rebowe’s petition for reinstatement and found it to be satisfactory. The court issued the order today.