Opinion ID: 2677168
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: p roceedings b elow

Text: On August 29, 2011, the Board of Professional Responsibility (“the Board”) filed a Petition for Discipline against Fletcher Whaley Long, who was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 1997. The Board alleged that Mr. Long committed professional misconduct during his representation of Lawrence Earl Ralph. On May 22 and May 23, 2012, a hearing panel (“the Panel”), appointed by the Board pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, section 8.2, heard evidence in the case. On May 30, 2012, the Panel issued its decision finding that Mr. Long had violated Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, RPCs 1.4(a), 1.15(a), 1.16(d)(5) and 8.4(a), and imposed a public censure.1 Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, section 1.3, Mr. Long appealed the Panel’s decision to the Montgomery County Chancery Court (“the Trial Court”). On March 27, 2013, the Trial Court, based on the transcript and the record of the Panel’s proceeding, affirmed the Panel’s findings and recommendations. Mr. Long appeals the decision of the Trial Court.