2b04e75c-2482-4c41-8666-94999ebb5224.pdf (2015)
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
IN RE: SHANNON MICHELE LOVINS,BPR #19481
An Attorney Licensed to Practice Law in Tennessee
(Sullivan County)
FILED
FEB 20 2015
No. M2014-02146-SC-BAR-BP
BOPR No. 2014-2385-0-KH(25) Clerk c s t!-K Courts
Recd By
ORDER OF RECIPROCAL DISCIPLINE
This matter is before the Court pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 25, upon a
Notice of Submission filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility ("Board")
consisting of a certified copy of Consent Order of Discipline entered by the Disciplinary
Hearing Commission ofthe North Carolina State Bar on December 5, 2012.
On November 14, 2014, this Court entered a Notice of Reciprocal Discipline
requiring Ms. Lovins to show cause, if any, why reciprocal discipline should not be imposed
in Tennessee. The Consent Order of Discipline entered by the Disciplinary Hearing
Commission of the North Carolina State Bar on December 5, 2012, imposed a five (5)
year suspension; further, it provided that Ms. Lovins would be permitted to seek a stay of
the suspension after serving two (2) years of active suspension. The Order provides a
number of conditions that Ms. Lovins must meet to request the stay. Ms. Lovins filed a
Response to the Notice of Submission on January 29, 2015.
After consideration of the entire record, the Court finds that none of the elements in
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 25.4 exist and it is appropriate to enter an Order of Reciprocal
Discipline.
IT IS, THEREFORE,CONSIDERED,ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED
BY THE COURT THAT:
(1) Shannon Michele Lovins shall be suspended from the practice of law for five
(5) years, as imposed by the Consent Order of Discipline entered by the Disciplinary
Hearing Commission of the North Carolina State Bar, attached to this Order as Exhibit A.
Further, the suspension shall be retroactive to December 5, 2012.
(2) In the event that Ms. Lovins is granted a stay of suspension by the North
Carolina Bar, she may apply to this Court for reciprocal relief from the remainder of the
suspension.
(3) Ms. Lovins shall comply in all aspects with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, §§ 28 and
30.4 regarding the obligations and responsibilities of suspended attorneys and the procedure
for reinstatement. While suspended, Ms. Lovins remains obligated to fulfill all applicable
CLE requirements and to pay annual registration fees. Ms. Lovins must meet all CLE
requirements and pay all annual registration fees prior to petitioning for reinstatement.
(4) Pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 31.3, Ms. Lovins shall reimburse and pay to
the Board of Professional Responsibility the costs and expenses of this proceeding in the
amount of $40.00; 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 shall issue, if
necessary.
(5) The Board of Professional Responsibility shall cause notice of this
suspension to be published in accordance with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 28.11.
PER CURIAM
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