The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Florida lawyer Heather Chastain Parker on Dec. 19. Parker was placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on May 16, 2012. The Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed Parker’s petition for reinstatement and found that reinstatement would be appropriate.

Cocke County lawyer Charlotte Ann Leibrock was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on Dec. 16 after the Tennessee Supreme Court found she posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. Leibrock immediately is precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by Jan. 16, 2026. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Dec. 15 censured Alabama lawyers William Jefferson Cranford III and Matthew Brett Reeves. According to the court, Cranford drafted, signed and personally filed two motions for a client that included fabricated citations generated by using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The citations were added to the motions by another attorney, but the court found that Cranford had an obligation to check the citations before signing the motions and filing them. It also determined that he failed to act with diligence and caused a delay in his client’s case. In addition, the court found that Reeves personally used AI to add citations to two motions. The court found that the citations were fabricated and Reeves took no action to check their accuracy. It also determined that he failed to act with diligence and caused a delay in his client’s case. The actions of Cranford and Reeves were deemed to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2 and 8.4.

On Dec. 15, the Tennessee Supreme Court responded to a petition for reinstatement from Georgia attorney Meredith Gardial noting that she has outstanding requirements with the Board of Professional Responsibility and the Commission on Continuing Legal Education. If these obligations are not satisfied by Jan. 27, 2026, the court said it would dismiss her petition.

On Dec. 4, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Utah attorney Danielle Cristene Droitsch to inactive status noting that all required reinstatement fees and delinquent annual inactive registration fees have been paid to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently took action on two reinstatement petitions. On Dec. 10, the court reinstated Sullivan County lawyer Joseph Salvatore Imburgia, who had been on inactive status since Dec. 10, 2019. On Dec. 9, the court reinstated the law license of Georgia attorney Sarah Elaine Willis, who had been on inactive status since July 23, 2019.

Anderson County lawyer Bradley David Williams was reinstated to the practice of law on Dec. 2. He had been on inactive status since Dec. 15, 2015. According to the Tennessee Supreme Court, Williams filed a reinstatement petition, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.

Knox County lawyer Keri Elizabeth Rule was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on Dec. 5. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after finding that Rule failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

Vermont lawyer Andrew David Watts was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Dec. 2. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Dec. 16, 2019. Watts filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.

Georgia lawyer Michael Victor Coleman was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Nov. 25. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Sept. 12, 2012. Coleman filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.