BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2017)
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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: ASHLEY DENISE PRESTON, BPR #25642
CONTACT: ALAN D. JOHNSON
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
October 20, 2017
FORMER DAVIDSON COUNTY LAWYER SUSPENDED
On October 20, 2017, Ashley Denise Preston was suspended from the practice of law by the Tennessee
Supreme Court. Ms. Preston is suspended from the practice of law for four (4) years retroactive to the date of
her transfer from Disability Inactive Status to Active Status, February 23, 2016, with two (2) years to be served
as an active suspension and the remaining time to be served on probation. As conditions of her probation, Ms.
Preston must engage a practice monitor, make restitution to one client, and satisfy the judgment in Daffin v.
Preston as appropriate. Ms. Preston must pay the Board costs in this matter within 90 days.
The Board filed a Petition for Discipline and two Supplemental Petitions for Discipline arising from four
(4) complaints of ethical misconduct. In one matter, Ms. Preston failed to respond to an Order of the Court of
Appeals on behalf of a client. In another matter, Ms. Preston failed to appear in court due to a conflict and the
clientâs case was dismissed. Ms. Preston attempted to alert the court to her conflict, but her communication did
not reach the judge and opposing counsel successfully moved for dismissal of the case. In a third case, Ms.
Preston accepted a fee to represent a client in a child support matter; however, Ms. Preston failed to do any
work on the case. In the last matter, Ms. Preston became sole trustee of her familyâs trust and began making
payments to herself and other beneficiaries that were disputed by one of the beneficiaries. A lawsuit was filed
against Ms. Preston for these payments, and a default judgment was taken. Ms. Preston entered into a
Conditional Guilty Plea admitting that she violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence), 1.3
(diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 1.15 (safekeeping property), 1.16 (terminating representation), 3.2
(expediting litigation), and 8.4 (a) and (d) (misconduct).
Ms. Preston must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 28 and
30, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys and may not return to the active
practice of law until an order of reinstatement has been entered by the Supreme Court.
Preston 2374-5 rel.doc