BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2003)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
of the
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
LANCE B. BRACY WILLIAM W. HUNT, III
CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL 1101 KERMIT DRIVE, SUITE 730 CHARLES A. HIGH
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217 SANDY GARRETT
LAURA L. CHASTAIN
DEPUTY CHIEF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500 JESSE D. JOSEPH
(800) 486-5714 JAMES A. VICK
BEVERLY P. SHARPE FAX: (615) 367-2480 THERESA M. COSTONIS
CONSUMER COUNSEL/DIRECTOR E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: JOE W. ELLIS, BPR # 17967
CONTACT: CHARLES A. HIGH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
May 13, 2003
NASHVILLE LAWYER DISCIPLINED AND PLACED ON PROBATION
Joe W. Ellis, III, a Nashville attorney, has been publicly disciplined by Order of the Supreme
Court of Tennessee entered on April 29, 2003. The disciplinary action was based on a conditional
guilty plea submitted by Ellis. The plea was recommended and approved by the Board of
Professional Responsibility.
The order imposes a suspension of eleven months, twenty-nine days, commencing
February 9, 2001, the date upon which Ellis voluntarily ceased the practice of law. A suspension
of less than one year does not require a formal reinstatement hearing and the effect of the Courtâs
order is to reinstate Ellisâ license to practice and to begin a two (2) year probation.
Mr. Ellis was placed on probation for two (2) years commencing April 29, 2003. During the
probationary period Ellis is required to fully comply with a monitoring/advocacy agreement with the
Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP). The agreement requires that the lawyer shall
remain in treatment with his medical doctor and to take the medication prescribed by the doctor.
The agreement requires random substance and alcohol tests as well as abstinence from the use of
alcohol or controlled substances not prescribed by the doctor.
The conditional guilty plea stated that Ellis had engaged in conduct prejudicial to the
administration of justice and in conduct adversely reflecting on his fitness to practice law. The
petition for discipline charged that Ellis had billed time entries to client files for work not performed
by him. It was also charged that he had made a false statement to a judge in connection with one
time entry.
Ellisâ misconduct was mitigated by the fact that he had no prior discipline, by his full and free
disclosure to the Board of the misconduct, and by the fact that he sought treatment for a medical
condition that was previously not diagnosed.
Release of Information
Re: Joe W. Ellis, II
May 13, 2003
_________________________
The disciplinary rules are mandatory for all attorneys. They state a minimum level of conduct
and any violation reflects negatively on the standing and integrity of the bar.
CAH:mw
Ellis1267 rel.doc