Illinois lawyer Stephen Kenneth Perry was suspended from the practice of law in Tennessee on Oct. 2. The state Supreme Court suspended him for two years, retroactive to Jan. 2, 2019, the date of his temporary suspension. The court also directed Perry to make restitution to his client in the amount of $3,500 and enter into a monitoring agreement with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program.

Several lawyers have been reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee after being on inactive status for more than five years. They include Mississippi lawyer Anne Margaret Klingen, Missouri lawyer Jereme George Lytle, New York lawyer John A. Mueller, Kentucky lawyer Charles Brent Robbins, Arizona lawyer Linda Gayle Shanks (Miernik), and Alabama lawyer Julia Givens Williams. In addition, Illinois lawyer Stephanie G. Macht has been reinstated from military exempt status.

Davidson County attorney C. LeAnn Smith yesterday received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. In a custody matter in which she was a party, Smith lied under oath during a deposition in response to questions about her use of alcohol in the presence of the child. Smith’s conduct was not done in the representation of a client and she admitted her conduct under oath in her trial testimony in the same proceeding. The public censure does not affect Smith’s ability to practice law, but she must complete an assessment with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance programs within 60 days, and follow any recommendations they make.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended nine attorneys yesterday for failure to pay the annual registration fee and/or file proof that client funds are being held in an IOLTA-compliant account. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2020 or access all administrative suspensions. View the fee suspension order or the IOLTA suspension order.

Knoxville lawyer George Turner Howard III was issued a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday. Howard shared fees with outside counsel without first obtaining the informed consent of his clients in writing. He also provided financial assistance to clients, held out certain non-lawyer staff as persons holding corporate officer positions in his firm, and made deceptive statements through his advertising. Howard has corrected these issues and has agreed to discontinue such conduct. A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it has no effect on their ability to practice law.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today denied two petitions from the Board of Professional Responsibility asking the court to consider criminal contempt and appointment of a special master for Shelby County lawyer Bretran Renaldo Thompson. On Jan. 4, 1996, Thompson was disbarred from the practice of law. On Feb. 24, the BPR filed a petition for criminal contempt, alleging that Thompson failed to comply with the terms of his disbarment by engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. On June 2, the BPR filed a motion for appointment of a special master. The court rejected the petitions saying the alleged misconduct is best addressed through criminal charges in the Shelby County Criminal Court.

Davidson County lawyer David Scott Parsley was suspended from the practice of law yesterday for one year, with three months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. During the probation, Parsley must meet monthly with a practice monitor, who will assess his case load, case management, trust account, compliance with trust account rules, accounting procedures, and office management procedures. The court found that Parsley engaged in a business transaction with a client and friend without properly informing them of the conflict of interest. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.8.

Davidson County lawyer Scott David Johannessen received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday. The court found that Johannessen violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7, 8.4(d) and 1.1. As the sole member of a limited liability company that was a member of another company called FYI, Johannessen was appointed as the attorney for FYI for particular issues. He then hired an attorney and filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against FYI. The next day, he filed a notice of appearance in the bankruptcy proceeding as a pro se creditor, alleging FYI owed him personally. The court found that these action created a significant risk that representation of his client would be materially limited by his interest as sole member of the other company and by his personal interest as a creditor against FYI.

Williamson County lawyer Bradley Michael Carter was suspended from the practice of law today for two years, with four months to be served on active suspension and the rest on suspension. During the probationary period, Carter must engage a practice monitor, who will submit monthly reports regarding trust account rules and accounting procedures. The Tennessee Supreme Court reports that Carter entered a conditional guilty plea on July 21.

Louisiana lawyer James Austin Dukes was permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Tennessee today. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action based on an order from the Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana permanently disbarring Dukes in that state. The court reports that it gave Dukes the opportunity to explain why reciprocal discipline should not be imposed in Tennessee, but received no response.