BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2006)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
of the
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
1101 KERMIT DRIVE, SUITE 730
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37217
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
FAX: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: JAMES LLOYD GORDON, #11857
CONTACT: JESSE D. JOSEPH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
August 16, 2006
MEMPHIS LAWYER SUSPENDED
James Lloyd Gordon, a Memphis lawyer, has been suspended from the practice
of law by Order of the Tennessee Supreme Court filed on August 11, 2006. Gordon
was suspended for a period of eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days, with the
first ninety (90) days to be served, and the balance of said period probated. The ninety
(90) day period of actual suspension will begin on August 21, 2006.
Disciplinary Counsel filed a petition for discipline against Gordon in 2005
pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, and Gordon submitted a conditional
guilty plea resulting in the suspension. Gordonâs plea was approved by the Hearing
Panel, the Board of Professional Responsibility and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Gordon admitted within his plea that he failed to pay from his escrow account for
more than a 3 year period, approximately $2,165 in a clientâs settlement funds due a
physician pursuant to a lien Gordon signed, on account of his gross negligence and his
failure to timely and properly investigate the attendant circumstances. The Board
acknowledges that Gordon did ultimately make a proper investigation and paid this
physicianâs claim in April of 2004.
Following the ninety day period of actual suspension, Gordon will be allowed to
resume the practice of law without the need for a reinstatement proceeding, while on
probation until the end of the eleven month, twenty-nine day period. Gordon is required
to allow his escrow account monitor to have access to all records and information
necessary to monitor this account, and is required to ensure that his monitor provides
monthly progress reports to Disciplinary Counsel during Gordonâs probationary period.
Further, Gordon is required to specifically review and implement the principles
contained in both Board Formal Ethics Opinion 89-F-121 and The ABA Guide to Lawyer
Trust Accounts (Foonberg, 1996), as part of the required monitoring. If Gordon fails to
comply with any condition of his probation, the Board may file a petition seeking the
revocation of his probation, and if the Board receives competent affidavit evidence from
Gordonâs monitor or from another individual with knowledge of additional
misappropriations from Gordonâs escrow account, the Board may file future petitions
seeking the temporary suspension of his law license.
Section 18 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 requires Gordon to notify by
registered or certified mail all clients being represented in pending matters; all co-
counsel and opposing counsel of the Tennessee Supreme Courtâs Order suspending
his license. Section 18 also requires Gordon to deliver to clients any papers or property
to which they are entitled.
Gordan 1487-9 rel.doc
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