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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: A. SAIS PHILLIPS FINNEY, #028845
CONTACT: EILEEN BURKHALTER SMITH
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
January 29, 2020
DAVIDSON COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On January 28, 2020, A. Sais Phillips Finney, a Tennessee attorney, received a Public Censure from the
Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Ms. Finney represented a client in the rehearing of a custody matter in juvenile court. After two preliminary
hearings, the request for rehearing was withdrawn by the father of the children prior to the scheduled trial. Ms.
Finney told her client in person that she would seek reimbursement of the attorney fees against the father, but she did
not file a motion for the clientâs attorney fees. Ms. Finney failed to respond to at least two requests in writing from
her client to provide an affidavit to assist in seeking reimbursement of the fees.
In response to a pro se filing by the client, the court ordered Ms. Finney to âprovide [an] affidavit of fees and
signed retainer letter directly to the Court.â Ms. Finney did not respond in any way to this directive by the court, and
the clientâs request for fees against the father was eventually dismissed.
Ms. Finneyâs failure to comply with the courtâs order to provide an affidavit of her fees is in violation of
Rules 1.3 (diligence), 3.4(c) (fairness to opposing party and counsel) and 8.4(d) (prejudice to the administration of
justice) for disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal. Ms. Finneyâs failure to respond to written requests
from her client to provide an affidavit of her fees is in violation of Rules 1.3 and 1.4 (communication). Ms. Finney
is in violation of Rule 1.16 (termination of representation) for failing to protect her clientâs interests upon her
withdrawal from the representation. The client suffered potential harm in her ability to have her claim for attorney
fees considered on the merits.
By these acts, Ms. Finney has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication),
1.16 (termination of representation), 3.4(c) (fairness to opposing party and counsel), and 8.4(d) (prejudice to the
administration of justice) and is hereby Publicly Censured for this conduct.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Finney 61556-5 rel.doc