BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2014)
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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: FLETCHER WHALEY LONG, BPR #18775
CONTACT: KRISANN HODGES
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
October 30, 2014
CLARKSVILLE LAWYER CENSURED
On October 29, 2014, Fletcher Whaley Long, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was publicly censured by
Order of the Tennessee Supreme Court. He was further ordered to pay restitution to two (2) former clients
and to pay the Boardâs costs in the disciplinary matter.
The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a Petition for Discipline against Mr. Long on June 13,
2013, which included two (2) complaints of ethical misconduct. In the first, Mr. Long was hired to handle a
divorce and child custody matter. Mr. Long failed to properly communicate with or to advise his client about
the objectives of the representation in a divorce matter. Due to the lack of appropriate communication
between Mr. Long and his client, the clientâs divorce case was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction because
Tennessee was not the proper forum to determine child custody and property issues. In the second complaint,
a client hired Mr. Long to represent her in an appeal of a child custody matter from Juvenile Court. Mr. Long
filed the appeal in the wrong court; however, the opposing party agreed to enter an Order for the purpose of
filing a proper appeal. Mr. Long failed to enter the agreed order in a timely manner because it was not entered
until a year later.
Mr. Longâs actions violate the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.1, Competence; 1.4(a) and
(b), Communication; 1.5(a) Fees; 3.1, Meritorious Claims and Contentions; 8.4(a) and (d), Misconduct.
For these violations, the Tennessee Supreme Court publicly censured Mr. Long. A public censure is a
rebuke and warning to the lawyer, but does not affect the lawyerâs ability to practice law.
Long 2225-6 rel.doc