The Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 22 suspended McMinn County lawyer Joseph H. Crabtree Jr. from the practice of law for three years, with one year to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. During the first year of probation, the court directed Crabtree to engage a practice monitor at his own expense. It also conditioned reinstatement on Crabtree completing six hours of continuing legal education on ethics and six hours on law office management, paying restitution to two former clients, and reimbursing the Tennessee Lawyers Fund for Client Protection for any payments to complainants. The court took the action after finding that Crabtree’s conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.8 (h), 3.2, 3.4 (c) ,8.1 (b) and 8.4 (a), (c) and (d). The court explains why it rejected the Board of Professional Responsibility's recommendation for discipline as "inadequate" in this opinion.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Knox County lawyer Gary Lee Anderson from the practice of law yesterday after finding that he 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 to practice law in such cases. Anderson is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by Dec. 17.

Anderson County attorney Joe Richard Judkins was today censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Following a disagreement with a client, Judkins refused to immediately transfer the client file to his client’s new counsel and asserted a valid attorney’s lien in the litigation and over the file materials Additionally, Judkins failed to adequately communicate with his client about the terms of the fees to be paid, failed to provide updates as to the accrual of fees at regular intervals during the representation and did not notify his client as to the amount of fees owed until after his representation was terminated. Finally, in an effort to defend his valid attorney’s lien for fees, Judkins received permission from the court to intervene in the litigation, but attempted to participate in the litigation beyond the extent the court deemed necessary.

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week rejected a petition from Johnnie Louis Johnson III challenging the imposition of reciprocal discipline in Tennessee. On May 26, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals filed an opinion disbarring Johnson. On Sept. 12, the Tennessee Supreme Court directed Johnson to inform the court within 30 days why similar discipline should not be imposed in Tennessee. Johnson did not respond and on Oct. 18, the court disbarred him. Johnson then filed a response challenging the analysis of the D.C. court and asking the Tennessee court to allow him to retire from the practice of law on Jan. 1, 2023, without the imposition of discipline. The court rejected that request.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today denied a reinstatement request from Georgia lawyer Khristie L. Kelly, who had petitioned for reinstatement on July 19. The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education opposed Kelly’s reinstatement based on her failure to pay fees and establish compliance with mandatory continuing legal education requirements for three compliance years. Kelly was advised twice that her petition would not be granted until outstanding obligations were resolved. The court reports that Kelly did not satisfy the obligations by the deadline.

The law license of Georgia attorney Robert Andrew Free was transferred to disability inactive status today. Free may not practice law while on inactive status. He may be reinstated to the practice of law after showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and he is fit to resume the practice of law.

Knox County lawyer Stephen Wayne Gibson was transferred to disability inactive status today. Gibson may not practice law while on inactive status and must comply with the obligations and responsibilities of attorneys transferred to disability inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing that his disability has been removed in accordance with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 27.7.

Knox County lawyer Herbert Sanford Moncier was censured today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The court found that he violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.7, 1.9, 3.1, 3.4(c) and 8.4(g) while pursuing a qui tam suit filed in state court. Moncier initially named a former client as a defendant in the action, but then voluntarily withdrew the complaint. The court found that he acted as his own attorney and had a personal interest in the case. The court ordered Moncier to retain successor counsel for the action, which he did not do.

Davidson County lawyer Nathan Scott Moore was reinstated to the active practice of law with conditions today. On April 14, 2014, Moore was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court for two years, with three months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Moore filed a petition for reinstatement on Oct. 1, 2021. The court approved his reinstatement but conditioned it on engagement of a practice monitor for one year and compliance with any monitoring agreement recommended by the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday issued an order directing Justin Grey Woodward to inform the court within 30 days why the imposition of reciprocal discipline (based on the actions of the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia) would be unwarranted in Tennessee. Woodward was reprimanded publicly by the Georgia Supreme Court on Jan. 19 for conduct involving three separate matters. The Georgia court reports that Woodward sought the discipline before the issuance of a formal complaint.