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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: R.W. HARDISON, BPR #009479
CONTACT: RUSSELL WILLIS
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
May 1, 2019
WILLIAMSON COUNTY LAWYER SUSPENDED
On April 17, 2019, the Supreme Court of Tennessee suspended R. W. Hardison from the practice of
law for five (5) years, retroactive to his temporary suspension on August 29, 2017. Mr. Hardison must pay
the Board of Professional Responsibilityâs costs and expenses and court costs within ninety (90) days.
The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a Petition for Discipline on November 28, 2017,
including three (3) complaints of misconduct. Two (2) of the complaints arose from overdraft notices in
Mr. Hardisonâs trust account. The third complaint resulted from a closing transaction wherein Mr. Hardison
assisted a client with the refinancing of a commercial loan but failed to pay off one of the lenders in the
original loan transaction. Mr. Hardisonâs trust account balance for the months following the loan
transaction remained below the amount that should have been in the account. Mr. Hardison refunded his
client the unpaid loan amount and cites his negligent oversight of the trust account as the cause for him
being unaware of the unpaid loan. Mr. Hardison executed a Conditional Guilty Plea acknowledging his
misconduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a), (b) and (d), Safekeeping Property
and Funds; 5.3(a) and (c), Responsibilities Regarding Non-Lawyer Assistance; 8.1(b), Disciplinary Matters;
and 8.4 (a) and (c), Misconduct.
Mr. Hardison 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.
Hardison 2799-6 rel.doc