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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
FA24: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: JANET L. LAYMAN, BPR #021569
CONTACT: MARCY E. SHELTON
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 6, 2020
DAVIDSON COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On March 31, 2020, Janet L. Layman, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Ms. Layman and her former law partner dissolved their partnership at the end of 2014. Prior to the date
of dissolution, Ms. Layman instructed office staff to refrain from filing civil warrants on behalf of creditor
clients until after the first of the new year. After the dissolution, Ms. Layman did not timely forward to her
former partner funds that she received from former partnership clients who had informed her that they wanted
her former law partner to continue to represent them when the partnership dissolved. Ms. Layman and her
former partner filed civil lawsuits against each other, and the court held that Ms. Layman had converted funds
not belonging to her for over a year by depositing some funds into her operating account or transferring funds to
herself. In mitigation, the court found that Ms. Layman had eventually turned over all funds due to her former
partner.
By these acts, Janet L. Layman, has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2 (scope of representation
and allocation of authority between client and lawyer), 1.15 (safekeeping of property and funds), and 1.16
(declining or terminating representation) and is hereby Publicly Censured for these violations.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Layman 53607-5 rel.doc