BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2015)
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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: ROBERT LAWSON CHEEK, JR., BPR #15407
CONTACT: ALAN D. JOHNSON
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
August 13, 2015
KNOX COUNTY LAWYER DISBARRED
On August 12, 2015, Robert Lawson Cheek, Jr. was disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The
disbarment took effect immediately. Mr. Cheek must pay the Board of Professional Responsibilityâs costs and
expenses and court costs within ninety days.
On April 30, 2014, Mr. Cheek entered a guilty plea to mail fraud in the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Tennessee. On May 21, 2014, the Tennessee Supreme Court summarily suspended
Robert Lawson Cheek, Jr. from the practice of law pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 22.3.
The Board of Professional Responsibility filed a Final Petition for Discipline to determine the extent of Mr.
Cheekâs discipline. Another Petition for Discipline was filed against Mr. Cheek based upon a complaint
received after his summary suspension on May 21, 2014. The two cases were consolidated for Final Hearing.
Mr. Cheek misappropriated settlement funds, withheld money from settlements to pay subrogation
claims, paid only a portion of the claims, and in some cases, he forged his clientsâ signatures on settlement
checks. The Hearing Panel determined that Mr. Cheek violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, Diligence;
1.5, Fees; 1.15, Safekeeping Property; 8.4(a - d), Misconduct.
Should Mr. Cheek petition for reinstatement, he must establish that he has paid restitution to his former
clients, complied with the terms and conditions of probation ordered by the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Tennessee, and complied with any recommendations of the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance
Program.
In an unrelated case, Mr. Cheek was previously disbarred on May 15, 2014. To date, Mr. Cheek has not
been reinstated from his previous disbarment.
Mr. Cheek must comply with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Sections 28 and 30 regarding the
obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.
Cheek 2318-2; 2409-2 rel.doc