BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2025)
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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
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: JOSEPH HOUSTON CRABTREE, JR., BPR #011451
CONTACT: ERIC A. FULLER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
May 16, 2025
MCMINN COUNTY LAWYER DISBARRED
Effective May 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of Tennessee permanently disbarred attorney Joseph
Houston Crabtree, Jr., from the practice of law and ordered him to pay all costs and fees of the Board of
Professional Responsibility.
After a hearing upon the disciplinary petition, a Hearing Panel determined that, while representing a
client in a personal injury matter, Mr. Crabtree abandoned his client and the pending litigation, failed to respond
to subsequent communications from his client, and failed to turn over the clientâs file to successor counsel after
the client necessarily retained a new attorney. Further, when Mr. Crabtree was suspended from the practice of
law, on November 22, 2022, in unrelated disciplinary proceedings, he failed to notify either his client or
opposing counsel of the suspension, as required under Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28 and per the terms of the
Supreme Courtâs Order of Suspension. Finally, Mr. Crabtree failed to respond to the Board of Professional
Responsibility regarding these disciplinary complaints.
The appointed Hearing Panel determined that Mr. Crabtreeâs actions and omissions violated Rules of
Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication); 1.16 (declining or terminating representation); 3.2
(expediting litigation); 3,4(c) (fairness to opposing party and counsel); 8.1(b) (disciplinary matters); and 8.4(g)
(misconduct involving failure to comply with a final court order).
Mr. Crabtree must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28,
regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.
Crabtree 3366-3 rel.doc