California lawyer Christy Michelle Feldman and Florida lawyer Patricia Ann Teague were reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Aug. 15. Both had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago. Feldman has been on inactive since Feb. 25, 2013. Teague has been on inactive status since May 2002. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported to the Tennessee Supreme Court that the petitions for reinstatement were satisfactory. The court issued the orders Friday.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee last week suspended 160 attorneys for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2021. View the Aug. 19 order or see the full list online, which notes the attorneys who have complied with the requirements and been reinstated to date. Since the list was released, 59 lawyers have been reinstated: 23 on Aug. 22, 15 on Aug. 23, 15 on Aug. 24, three on Aug. 25 and three on Aug. 26. Access all administrative suspension lists dating back to 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week suspended 18 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; 10 of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the Aug. 18 fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. In addition, 12 lawyers previously suspended for these violations in 2022 were reinstated to the practice of law in July and August. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2022 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Davidson County lawyer C. LeAnn Smith was suspended from the practice of law today for two years and six months. As a condition of reinstatement, Smith would have to enter into a Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring agreement that includes reporting to the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility. The court took the action after receiving one complaint that Smith testified falsely under oath as a party to a lawsuit. Her conduct was found to violate Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(c) and (d).

The law license of Sumner County lawyer John T. Harding was transferred to disability inactive status on Friday. Harding may not practice law while on inactive status and must comply with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by showing that his disability has been removed in accordance with Rule 9, Section 27.7.

Wilson County lawyer Jennifer M. Porth was temporarily suspended today after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that she misappropriated client funds, failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint of misconduct, and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. Porth is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must stop representing existing clients by Sept. 10.

Davidson County lawyer Karl Emmanuel Pulley was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court found that while engaged to represent a client, Pulley was suspended from the practice of law on another matter. He withdrew from representation and told the client he would resume his work after being reinstated, but did not do so. The court determined that Pulley had not fully earned the fee the client had paid. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.5 and 1.16 and Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 Section 28. The court imposed the censure on the condition that Pulley make a partial refund of $3,750 to the client within 90 days.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today ordered that Georgia lawyer James Darren McWilliams be reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee as of July 19. McWilliams had been placed on inactive status on August 25, 2011. He petitioned the court for reinstatement and the Board of Professional Responsibility informed the court that the petition was satisfactory.

The law license of Arizona attorney David Martin Macaione was transferred to disability inactive status today by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Macaione may not practice law while on inactive status and must comply with the requirements of Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by showing that his disability has been removed.

Indiana lawyer Donna R. T. Goodman was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee Monday. Goodman had been placed on inactive status on Aug. 30, 2000. She filed a petition seeking reinstatement and the Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory.