Madison County lawyer Jack Colin Morris received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court found that in representing a client in a detainer action, Morris did not appear at a hearing, resulting in the case being dismissed. The court did find, however, that Morris made a timely and good faith effort to rectify the consequences of his misconduct. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 8.4(a) and (d).

Shelby County lawyer A. Sais Phillips Finney was suspended from the practice of law today after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that she failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning two complaints of misconduct. The court also determined that she posed a risk of substantial harm to the public. The suspension takes effect immediately and will remain in force until modified or dissolved by the court.

Hamilton County lawyer Katherine Teresa Farrar was reinstated to the practice of law yesterday. She had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Oct. 12, 2015. The court made her reinstatement effective as of Feb. 14.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended 32 attorneys who did not pay the annual professional privilege tax as required. The attorneys include those living in Tennessee as well as 12 other states. Download the order. See the list with any reinstatements noted here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday temporarily suspended Janet Monique Okoye from the practice of law after finding she failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning three complaints of misconduct. Section 12.3 of Supreme Court Rule 9 provides for the immediate summary suspension of an attorney’s license for failure to respond to a complaint of misconduct. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended Sir Ashley James Harrison of Huntersville, North Carolina, from the practice of law for five years, retroactive to December 8, 2015. The court took the reciprocal action after the North Carolina State Bar suspended Harrison for five years. Harrison must comply with Sections 28 and 30.4 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys and must pay the costs and expenses of the proceeding prior to any reinstatement.

Williamson County lawyer Wendell J. O’Reilly was permanently disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court today and ordered to pay restitution to his clients. The court determined that O’Reilly, while suspended from the practice of law, knowingly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law; failed to adequately communicate with his clients; knowingly misled courts, clients and third parties; knowingly charged excessive fees; failed to safeguard client funds; knowingly failed to comply with final court orders; engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; and failed to respond to the board about a disciplinary matter. His actions and omissions were found to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 3.3, 4., 5.5, 8.1 and 8.4(a), (b), (c), (d) and (g).

Georgia lawyer Allison S. Hines Ficken and Ohio lawyer Daniel Michael Spirko were recently reinstated to the practice of law after having been on inactive status for more than five years. Ficken was reinstated effective Feb. 8. Spirko was reinstated effective Feb. 4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended 26 attorneys last week for failure to pay the annual registration fee. Thirteen of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the Feb. 16 fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2022 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a reinstatement petition from Texas lawyer Daniel S. Edmunds Jr. Edmunds filed the petition on Oct. 4, 2021. The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education opposed the petition based on Edmunds’s failure to pay certain fees and penalties and comply with CLE requirements in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Board of Professional Responsibility also opposed to the petition based on his failure to pay the required reinstatement fee. Due to these outstanding issues, the court dismissed the petition.