springer-3014-order-of-enforcement-6-4-21.pdf (2021)
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06/04/2021
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
IN RE: PAUL JAMES SPRINGER, BPR #021267
An Attorney Licensed to Practice Law in Tennessee
(Shelby County)
_____________________________
No. M2021-00573-SC-BAR-BP
BOPR No. 2019-3014-9-TL
_____________________________
ORDER OF ENFORCEMENT
This matter is before the Court upon a Petition for Discipline filed against Paul
James Springer on June 27, 2019; upon the Board filing its Motion for Default Judgment
and That Charges in Petition for Discipline Be Deemed Admitted on September 5, 2019;
upon the Hearing Panel entering its Order for Default Judgment on October 7, 2019; upon
the Executive Secretary of the Board forwarding a copy of the Order for Motion for Default
to Mr. Springer on October 7, 2019; upon the hearing in this matter scheduled for October
29, 2019; upon the Board filing its Supplemental Petition for Discipline on January 21,
2020; upon Mr. Springer filing his Response to Supplemental Petition for Discipline on
March 16, 2020; upon the Hearing Panel entering its order Denying Motion to Dismiss for
Lack of Jurisdiction regarding an allegation of lack of jurisdiction in Mr. Springerâs
Response to Supplemental Petition for Discipline on April 22, 2020; upon Mr. Springer
filing his Motion to Recuse and/or Disqualify Hearing Panel Member on June 30, 2020;
upon the Board filing its Response in Opposition to Respondentâs Motion to Recuse and/or
Disqualify Hearing Panel Member on July 2, 2020; upon the Hearing Panel entering its
Order on Motion to Recuse and/or Disqualify Hearing Panel Member on July 20, 2020;
upon Mr. Springer filing his Motion for Stay of Hearing on August 19, 2020; upon the
Board filing its Response to Respondentâs Motion for Stay of Hearing on August 20, 2020;
upon the Board filing its Supplemental Response to Respondentâs Motion for Stay of
Hearing on August 24, 2020; upon Mr. Springer filing his Supplemental Motion for Stay
of Hearing on August 28, 2020; upon the Board filing its Response to Respondentâs
Supplemental Motion for Stay on September 4, 2020; upon the Hearing Panel entering its
Order on Motion to Stay Hearing denying Mr. Springerâs Motion on September 22, 2020;
upon Mr. Springer filing a Motion to Recuse and/or Disqualify Hearing Panel and Assign
a New Panel on October 23, 2020; upon Mr. Springer filing his Sworn Notice Pursuant to
Supreme Court Rule 27.4 on October 23, 2020; upon the Board filing its Response to
Respondentâs Motion to Recuse and/or Disqualify Hearing Panel and Assign a New Panel
and Sworn Notice Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 27.4 on October 23, 2020; upon a Final
Hearing held telephonically during which Mr. Springer made an opening statement
objecting to the hearing and then determining not to participate further on October 26,
2020; upon the Board filing its Response of Board to Notice Pursuant to Supreme Court
Rule 27.4 in the Supreme Court on October 29, 2020; upon the Supreme Court entering its
Order denying Mr. Springerâs request to seek disability inactive status on November 3,
2020; upon the Hearing Panel entering its Order on Motion to Recuse and/or Disqualify
Hearing Panel and Assign a New Panel on November 20, 2020; upon the Hearing Panel
entering its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on January 13, 2021; upon the
Executive Secretary of the Board forwarding a copy of the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law to Mr. Springer on January 14, 2021; upon the Board filing its
Application for Assessment of Costs on January 20, 2021; upon the Hearing Panel entering
its Findings and Judgment for Assessment of Costs on February 8, 2021; upon the
Executive Secretary of the Board forwarding a copy of the Findings of Judgment for
Assessment of Costs to Mr. Springer on February 8, 2021; upon Mr. Springer filing a
Motion for Hearing Panel to Make Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law and to
Disclose Relevant Information and a Motion to Set Aside, Make Additional Findings of
Fact in the Alternative, Motion for a New Trial on March 15, 2021; upon the Board filing
its Objection to Respondentâs Motion for Hearing Panel to Make Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law and to Disclose Relevant Information on April 12, 2021; upon the
Board filing its Objection to Respondentâs Motion to Set Aside, Make Additional Findings
of Fact or in the Alternative, Motion for a New Trial on April 12, 2021; upon the Hearing
Panel entering its Order on Respondentâs Motion to Set Aside, Make Additional Findings
of Fact or Motion for a New Trial Motion, denying the motion on April 30, 2021; upon the
Hearing Panel entering its Order on Motion to Make Findings of Facts and Conclusions of
Law and to Disclose Relevant Information, denying the motion on April 30, 2021; upon
the Executive Secretary of the Board forwarding copies of both Orders by mail to Mr.
Springer on May 3, 2021; upon the Board of Professional Responsibility approving the
Orders of the Hearing Panel on March 12, 2021.
From all of which the Court approves the Orders of the Hearing Panel and adopts
the Hearing Panelâs Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as the Courtâs Order.
IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED
BY THE COURT THAT:
(1) James Paul Springer is permanently disbarred from the practice of law
pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.1.
(2) Mr. Springer shall make restitution to Pamela Robinson-Moonâs estate,
pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.7, in the amount of $6,247.34.
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(3) Mr. Springer shall, within ten (10) days of the entry of this Order of
Enforcement, close his law firm IOLTA account ending in number 0241. In the event Mr.
Springer does not close his law firm IOLTA account, First Tennessee Bank a/k/a First
Horizon Bank is hereby authorized to take all steps necessary to close Mr. Springerâs law
firm IOLTA account ending in number 0241. Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.1, this
Order shall be effective upon entry.
(4) Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 31.3(d), Mr. Springer shall pay to the Board
of Professional Responsibility the expenses and costs of this matter in the amount of
$1,957.45 and shall pay to the Clerk of this Court the costs incurred herein, within ninety
(90) days of the entry of this Order, for all of which execution may issue if necessary.
(5) The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this discipline
to be published as required by Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.11.
PER CURIAM
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