BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2009)
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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
RE: MATTHEW V. PORTER, BPR# 22240
CONTACT: KIMBRA SPANN
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
July 22, 2009
SHELBY COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On July 20, 2009, Matthew V. Porter, licensed in Tennessee, received a Public Censure from the Board
of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 9, the Board
considered this matter at its meeting on June 12, 2009.
Porter worked on personal injury cases for Complainant attorney as an independent contractor of
Complainantâs firm. In early March and into early April, 2008, management discovered that Porter had
somehow obtained and used the Complainantâs and another employeeâs password, which gave Porter access to
information from the case management system, including client lists, files, and management reports. There was
no evidence that file information was actually exported to an outside source and Complainant conceded that no
files or information were exported.
While checking the computer records generated by a key logger, the Complainant became aware that
Porter was planning to leave the firm. Despite the fact that Complainant changed the passwords of the
management team several times over the course of March and into April, Porter still managed to read the
interoffice messages of the management team by obtaining access through one of the case managers. Porter
used the case managerâs password to log into the system from his own computer. Porter also obtained the
passwords of the management team. Computer records show Porter logged in at various times over the course
of several weeks to monitor management interoffice messages.
By the aforementioned facts, Matthew V. Porter, has violated Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(c)
(dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation) and is hereby Publicly Censured for this violation.
For this violation, the Supreme Court of Tennessee publicly censures Matthew V. Porter. A public
censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to practice law.
Porter 31151-9 rel.doc
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