Richard Louis Reynolds was today disbarred from the practice of law by Order of Reciprocal Discipline. Reynolds, who now resides in Diamondhead, Mississippi, was disbarred by the Supreme Court of Mississippi on Sept. 23. The Supreme Court of Tennessee gave Notice of Reciprocal Discipline to Reynolds on Nov. 9, but he failed to show why the discipline imposed by Mississippi’s high court should not also be imposed in Tennessee. Reynolds must pay the court’s costs and expenses within 90 days of this order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended 15 attorneys on Tuesday for failure to pay the annual registration fee. Eight of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. A ninth attorney suspended for IOLTA violations was immediately reinstated after the court determined he had been included on the order in error. View the Dec. 14 fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2021 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Knox County lawyer Melvin Jacob Werner was suspended from the practice of law today after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he misappropriated funds and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. The suspension will remain in effect until modified or dissolved by the court.

Madison County attorney Sherry Marie Percival was reinstated to the practice of law last week. She was suspended on May 27, 2021, for five years, with six months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Percival filed a petition for reinstatement on Sept. 23, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory. The Tennessee Supreme Court adopted the board’s recommendation but conditioned the probation on Percival engaging a practice monitor and meeting with the monitor monthly to assess her trust account practices, case load, timeliness of tasks and adequacy of communication with clients. The court also directed her to engage a certified public accountant to reconcile her trust account on a quarterly basis.

Wilson County lawyer Christopher Daniel Lins was reinstated to the practice of law yesterday. Lins was placed on inactive status in 2014. He sought reinstatement and the Tennessee Supreme Court found the petition satisfactory. He will be reinstated as of Nov. 1.

Putnam County attorney Albert Fitzpatrick Officer III was reinstated to the active practice of law yesterday. He had been suspended on March 11 for six years, with six months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned his reinstatement on engagement of a practice monitor who will meet with him monthly during the probationary period to assess his case load, timeliness of tasks, adequacy of communication with clients, and accounting procedures. The court also directed Officer to continue his current TLAP monitoring agreement and follow all recommendations of the agency during the probation period.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed a three-year suspension for Nashville attorney Charles Edward Walker. The court took the action after a Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel found that Walker mishandled a delinquent tax sale redemption proceeding, failed to make certain disclosures on a federal court pro hac vice application, and failed to comply with an injunction. Walker appealed the panel’s decision, which was upheld by the Davidson County Chancery Court. Walker then appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the chancery court lacked the power to modify the panel’s decision and erred when it found he violated the rules. The Supreme Court found that the suspension was supported by substantial and material evidence and that the hearing panel’s decision was neither arbitrary nor an abuse of discretion. Read the BPR's press release or read the opinion.

Sullivan County lawyer Alexis Irene Tahinci was reinstated to the practice of law yesterday. Tahinci had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago. Tahinci petitioned the court for reinstatement and the Board of Professional Responsibility found the petition to be satisfactory. The court made the order effective as of Nov. 1.

Hawkins County lawyer Whitney Suzanne Bailey was reinstated to the practice of law today. Bailey was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 20, 2020, for two years, with 45 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. After filing a petition for reinstatement, a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility found that she had complied with the terms and conditions of her suspension. In addition to reinstating her law license, the court directed her to engage a practice monitor for the remainder of her probation period.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today disbarred Andrew Nathan Hall from the practice of law. He must pay restitution to two clients and cover all costs incurred to the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). A hearing panel found, in part, that Hall failed to comply with an order of summary suspension, failed to inform his client of his suspension and led his client to believe another attorney had agreed to represent her and several other. The panel also found that Hall failed to comply with an order of temporary suspension, repeatedly misled clients to believe their petition for bankruptcy had been filed and was proceeding, accepted a fee but failed to provide the professional services for which he had been retained and more.