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
D. MICHAEL VAN SANT, BPR #13986
CONTACT: CHARLES A. HIGH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
(615) 695-0929
May 4, 2006
NASHVILLE LAWYER DISBARRED
On May 1, 2006, the Supreme Court of Tennessee entered an order disbarring D. Michael
Van Sant from the practice of law.
A petition for discipline involving a disciplinary complaint was filed on September 16,
2004. A motion for default judgment on the petition for discipline was filed July 7, 2005.
On December 19, 2005, a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility
convened. The respondent, D. Michael Van Sant, was given proper notice of the hearing but
failed to appear.
The hearing panel heard argument from disciplinary counsel on December 27, 2005. The
hearing panel found that the respondent knowingly failed to perform services to clients and
neglected matters of clients. The hearing panel found as an aggravating factor that respondent
had prior public discipline of a public censure and a suspension.
The hearing panel granted the motion for default judgment and recommended that the
respondent be disbarred. Neither party appealed the Judgment of the Hearing Panel.
Based upon the hearing panelâs recommendation, the Supreme Court entered the order of
disbarment. A disbarred attorney may not apply for reinstatement for at least five years after the
effective date of disbarment. An attorney petitioning for reinstatement after disbarment must
have a hearing before a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility. After the
hearing, the hearing panel makes a written report to the Supreme Court recommending for or
against reinstatement. The attorney shall be reinstated only by order of the Supreme Court.
VanSant 1463-5 rel.doc
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