The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Albert Fitzpatrick Officer III from the practice of law for six years, with six months active suspension and the remainder on probation. Officer is ordered to continue his monitoring agreement with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program, engage the services of a practice monitor, pay restitution in the amount of $1,250 and reimburse the board for all costs in the disciplinary proceeding. Officer pleaded guilty to the amended criminal charge of misdemeanor DUI. He also failed to take action to prosecute or advance a client’s case, failed to advise his client in a matter that had been appealed, failed to file appellate responses resulting in the court removing him as the attorney of record, failed to deposit client funds into his trust account and appeared in court representing his clients while administratively suspended.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated to the practice of law after being suspended for failure to pay their annual registration fee or certify that eligible funds are held in IOLTA-approved accounts. They include: six who were suspended in 2021, 13 who were suspended in 2020, three who were suspended in 2019 and two who were suspended in 2012. In addition, the 2020 suspension for one lawyer was removed but he remains on inactive status.

Six lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for failure to pay the professional privilege tax. The list includes four suspended in 2020, one suspended in 2019 and one suspended in 2018.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for failure to meet CLE requirements. The list includes 16 suspended in 2020, two suspended in 2019, two suspended in 2017 and one in 2016.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended 28 attorneys on Feb. 26 for failure to pay the annual registration fee and/or file proof that client funds are being held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order or the 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.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended Richard Louis Reynolds from the practice of law until further orders. Reynolds pled guilty and was convicted of misprision of a felony in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Dallas Division. The matter has been referred to the Board of Professional Responsibility to institute formal proceedings to determine the extent of the final discipline to be imposed upon Reynolds as a result of his convictions of misdemeanors and a serious crime.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 11 denied a reinstatement petition filed by Shelby County lawyer Thomas Francis Jackson III and directed him to contact the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program for an evaluation within 30 days and complete a mental capacity evaluation within six months. Jackson was suspended from the practice of law on Aug. 20, 2019, after he failed to comply with an order to contact TLAP. On August 19, 2020, Jackson filed a petition for dissolution of the suspension. After conducting a hearing, the Board of Professional Responsibility determined that he had not complied with the August 2019 order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has asked the Board of Professional Responsibility to review the case of Carter County lawyer Thomas Marion Gray to determine if disciplinary action is required. On Oct. 19, 2020, Gray plead guilty to the theft of merchandise. The general sessions court imposed a year of probation and the requirement to complete an anti-theft class. Gray must return to court on Oct. 18 for a hearing on his compliance.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Mark Steven Graham from the practice of law for three years, retroactive to March 11, 2020, the date of his temporary suspension from the practice of law. Graham represented a foreign company involved in intellectual property litigation in the U.S. The company retained an expert witness and the client sent funds to Graham for payment of the expert witness fees. Graham failed to pay the expert as agreed and used a portion of the funds to pay his outstanding attorney fees. Graham will serve one year on active suspension and the remainder on probation. He must also obtain an evaluation with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program, engage a Practice Monitor, pay restitution and pay the Board of Professional Responsibility’s costs and expenses and court costs.

Judson Wheeler Phillips was permanently disbarred from the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Feb. 4. Phillips consented to permanent disbarment because he could not successfully defend himself on charges alleged in pending disciplinary complaints. He is not eligible for reinstatement in Tennessee, and he must comply with the requirements of TSC Rule 9, Sections 28 regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.