BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2015)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
FAX: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: BARBARA SIMS ARTHUR, BPR #4694
CONTACT: ALAN D. JOHNSON
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
August 26, 2015
HAMILTON COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On August 25, 2015, Barbara Sims Arthur of Chattanooga, Tennessee was publicly censured by the
Tennessee Supreme Court.
The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a Petition for Discipline against Ms. Arthur pursuant to
Rule 9, Rules of the Supreme Court based upon two complaints. In the first complaint, Ms. Arthur prepared
two Chapter 13 Bankruptcy petitions, but was unable to file them because she had not been reinstated to
practice in the Bankruptcy Court following a previous suspension. Ms. Arthurâs clients signed the Petitions as
pro se litigants, indicating they were not represented by counsel and Ms. Arthur filed them. In the second case,
Ms. Arthurâs client had been served with a detainer warrant. Ms. Arthur represented to opposing counsel that
the Bankruptcy Court had issued an automatic stay, when her file revealed that the request for a stay had been
denied.
The Hearing Panel found that Ms. Arthur violated Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 8, Rules of
Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence); 1.2 (scope of representation); 3.1 (meritorious claims and contentions);
3.3 (candor toward the tribunal); 4.1 (truthfulness in statements to others); and 8.4 (misconduct).
For these violations, the Tennessee Supreme Court publicly censured Barbara Sims Arthur. A public
censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but does not affect the attorneyâs ability to practice law.
Arthur 2207-3 rel.doc