BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2005)
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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
DEBRA FANNIN GRAHAM, BPR #15493
CONTACT: SANDY GARRETT
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
August 5, 2005
OAK RIDGE ATTORNEY CENSURED
On July 25, 2005, Debra Fannin Graham of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, received a
public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility based upon two complaints.
Graham was given notice of the censure and did not request a hearing. The first complaint
concerned Grahamâs representation of a juvenile. The Complainants state they paid Graham on
January 26, 2005, to represent their son in an Anderson County court case and a Knox County
case. Graham failed to appear for the Complainantsâ sonâs hearing in Anderson County.
Graham did refund the Complainants their $500 fee.
In the second complaint, a client paid Graham a $1,500 non-refundable retainer
for Grahamâs representation of the client in a custody case. The client states he stressed to
Graham at the time he retained her the urgency of Graham promptly filing an amended petition
for custody. After the client hired Graham, she did nothing on his case. Grahamâs response is
that she wrote the client requesting additional information prior to filing the petition. The client
states he understood from Graham she would file the petition without the requested information.
The client complained that he received no communication from Graham and that she failed to
return his calls. Graham provided the client with a $1,000 refund.
Grahamâs actions violate Rule 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.16 and 8.4 of the Tennessee Rules
of Professional Conduct. For these violations, the Board publicly censures Graham. The
censure declares Grahamâs actions to be improper ethical conduct but does not limit her right to
practice law.
A Public Censure is a form of discipline that declares the conduct of the lawyer
improper but does not limit the lawyerâs right to practice law.
Graham 28042-27295-2 rel.doc
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