BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2019)
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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: JOHN TERENCE TENNYSON, BPR #32777
CONTACT: KEVIN D. BALKWILL
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
July 19, 2019
DAVIDSON COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On July 19, 2019, John Terence Tennyson, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Tennyson entered into a written agreement with his client for representation in a civil matter to be
specifically filed in federal court. The agreement required payment of a $5,000.00 flat fee plus a contingent fee
based upon recovery by settlement or judgment. The fee was not designated as a non-refundable fee and a
penalty provision required his client to pay Mr. Tennyson at the rate of $370.00 per hour for his time if the
representation was terminated. Mr. Tennyson was not diligent in the preparation and filing of the civil action
despite regular assurances that it would be filed soon. Mr. Tennysonâs non-lawyer assistant inappropriately
discussed legal matters directly with his client. After his client terminated the legal representation, Mr.
Tennyson filed a civil action in state court without the clientâs consent. Mr. Tennyson failed to timely serve
summons upon the defendants and failed to formally withdraw from the action. The case was ultimately
dismissed for lack of prosecution. Mr. Tennyson acknowledged that he did not keep contemporaneous billing
records of his time nor did he have an itemized billing statement and was thus required to provide the unearned
portion of his fee to his client.
By these acts, John Terence Tennyson has violated Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2 (scope of
representation), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 1.15(d) (safekeeping property), 1.16
(terminating representation), 3.2 (expediting litigation), 3.4(c) (disobeying obligation under rules of tribunal),
5.3 (responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistance), and 8.4(a)(d) (misconduct) and is hereby Publicly
Censured for these violations. As a condition of the Public Censure, Mr. Tennyson shall be required to
reimburse $2,500.00 in fees directly to his client within 90 days of the date set forth herein.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Tennyson 59371-5 rel.doc