Opinion ID: 2677168
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: h earing p anel’s r uling

Text: Based on these facts, the Panel found that Mr. Long violated RPC 1.4(a) because he failed to provide an accounting of the fees that he had charged in connection with Mr. Ralph’s representation; violated RPC 1.15(a) because he failed to deposit the $7500 fee into his trust account; violated RPC 1.16(d)(5) because he failed to refund unearned fees; and violated RPC 8.4(a) by failing to adhere to RPCs 1.4(a), 1.15(a), and 1.16(d)(5).4 The Panel determined that a public censure was the appropriate sanction for Mr. Long’s misconduct. 2 At the time, Mr. Long and Mr. Clayton (who is now deceased) practiced together as an association of attorneys. 3 Mr. Ferrell filed a civil suit against Mr. Long seeking a refund of the $7500 fee that he had paid Mr. Long on his brother’s behalf. See Ferrell v. Long, No. M2008-02232-COA-R3-CV, 2009 WL 1362321 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 14, 2009), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Nov. 23, 2009). The trial court dismissed Mr. Ferrell’s lawsuit with prejudice on the ground that the statute of limitations had expired. Mr. Ferrell appealed the dismissal, which the Court of Appeals affirmed. Id. 4 At the time of the alleged misconduct, these rules stated as follows: RPC 1.4(a): “A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and comply with reasonable requests for information within a reasonable time.” RPC 1.15(a): “A lawyer shall hold property and funds of clients or third persons that are in a lawyer’s possession in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer’s own property and funds.” RPC 1.16(d)(5): “Upon termination of the representation of a client, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interests, including: . . . promptly refunding any advance payment for fees that have not been earned.” RPC 8.4(a): “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to . . . violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct[.]” -4-