Hill 1056 rel.PDF (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: DEBRA FANNN HILL, BPR #15493
CONTACT: SANDY GARRETT
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
August 27, 2003
LAW LICENSE OF OAK RIDGE ATTORNEY SUSPENDED
On August 25, 2003, the Supreme Court of Tennessee entered an order
suspending the law license of Debra Fannin Hill for a period of seventy-five days and
placing Hill on probation for a period of eleven months and twenty-nine days.
Hill was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court based upon a petition for
discipline the Board of Professional Responsibility filed against Hill. A hearing
committee hearing the formal charges found Hill engaged in misrepresentations and
deceit regarding a clientâs case. Further, the hearing panel found that Hillâs handling of
a clientâs settlement violated trust accounting rules. The hearing panel recommended
that Hill receive a seventy-five day suspension and probation for a period of eleven
months and twenty-nine days, to be served concurrently with the proposed seventy-five
day suspension. If any finding by a court, the Board of Professional Responsibility or
any hearing panel is made during Hillâs probationary period that Hill has violated a
disciplinary rule subsequent to the entry of the Supreme Courtâs August 25, 2003 order,
then Hillâs probation shall be immediately revoked and Hill shall be suspended from the
practice of law for the entire period of eleven months and twenty-nine days. Hill
appealed the hearing panelâs judgment but then later voluntarily dismissed her appeal.
Hill shall not use any indicia of lawyer, legal assistant or law clerk, nor maintain a
presence where the practice of law is conducted duri ng Hillâs seventy-five day
suspension. Section 18 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 requires Hill to notify all
clients that are being represented in pending matters; all co-counsel and opposing
counsel of the Supreme Courtâs order suspending her. Section 18 of Rule 9, Rules of
the Supreme Court also requires Hill to deliver to her clients all papers or property to
which they are entitled.
SG:mw
Hill 1056 rel.doc