del-172355.pdf (2013)
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
IN RE: VANESSA GALE KEELER, BPR# 20481
An Attorney Licensed to Practice Law in Tennessee
(Shelby County)
FHLED
No. M2013-02673-SC-BAR-BP
BOPR No. 2013-2182-9-AW
DEC 10 2013
Clerk of flie Cour
ORDER OF ENFORCEMENT
This matter is before the Court upon a Petition for Discipline filed against Vanessa
Gale Keeler on January 30, 2013; upon Ms. Keeler's Response to Petition for Discipline
filed April 2, 2013; upon the Conditional Guilty Plea filed August 21, 2013; upon the
Hearing Panel Order of Recommendation of Conditional Guilty Plea entered
September 6, 2013; upon consideration and approval by the Board on September 13,
2013; and upon the entire record in this cause.
From all of which the Court approves the Order of the Hearing Panel and adopts
the Hearing Panel's Order Recommending Approval of Conditional Guilty Plea as the
Court's Order.
On June 26, 2012, Ms. Keeler was suspended for failure to file her Interest On
Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) certification and for non-payment of her Board of
Professional Responsibility registration fees. Further, in Case No. M2012-01490-SCBPR-BP, this Court suspended Ms. Keeler on August 1, 2012, for a period of three (3)
years. To date, Ms. Keeler has not been reinstated from these suspensions.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that:
Vanessa Gale Keeler is suspended for three (3) years and six (6) months
(1)
retroactive to August 1, 2012, pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 4.2.
Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 4.7, Ms. Keeler shall make restitution to
(2)
Tawana Cage in the amount of $1,226.50. Payment of restitution is a condition precedent
to any reinstatement. In the event restitution is made by the Tennessee Lawyer's Fund
for Client Protection (TLFCP), Ms. Keeler shall reimburse TLFCP in the same amount.
Reinstatement is further conditioned upon Ms. Keeler's compliance with all JOLTA
certification requirements and payment of all outstanding registration fees due and owing
to IOLTA and the Board of Professional Responsibility.
(3)
Additionally, Ms. Keeler shall comply in all aspects with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R.
9, §§ 18 and 19 regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys.
(4)
Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 18.5, this Order shall be effective ten
(10) days after the date of entry.
(5)
Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 24.3, Ms. Keeler shall pay to the Board of
Professional Responsibility the expenses and costs of this matter in the amount of
$970.31 and in addition, shall pay to the Clerk of this Court the costs incurred herein,
within ninety (90) days of the entry of this Order, for all of which execution may issue if
necessary.
(6)
The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this
discipline to be published as required by Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 18.10.
FOR THE COURT:
CORNELIA A. CLARK, JUSTICE