BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2010)
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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: MICHAEL H. SNEED, BPR# 011141
CONTACT: NANCY JONES
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
January 27, 2010
NASHVILLE LAWYER HELD IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT
On January 26, 2010, the Supreme Court adopted the recommendation of a Special Master and held
Michael H. Sneed of Nashville, Tennessee in criminal contempt and sentenced him to serve fifty (50) days in
jail. The Court previously had entered an Order of Enforcement on February 24, 2009, suspending Mr. Sneed's
license to practice law for eighteen (18) months in connection with a Judgment of a Hearing Panel issued on a
Petition for Discipline filed by the Board of Professional Responsibility.
After the effective date of the suspension, the Board received complaints that Mr. Sneed continued to
practice law. Following an investigation, the Board filed a Petition for Order of Criminal Contempt on June 25,
2009, and a Supplemental Petition on July 24, 2009. The Supreme Court appointed a special master who held a
hearing on September 28, 2009. In the report and recommendation filed on November 18, 2009, the special
master found Mr. Sneed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of criminal contempt pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann.
29-9-102(3). Due to the egregious nature of his conduct, the special master recommended that the maximum
penalty should be imposed.
The Supreme Court ordered Mr. Sneed to show cause on January 5, 2010, why the special master's
recommendation should not be adopted. By the January 26, 2010 Order, the Court has adopted the
recommendation finding that, while on suspension, Mr. Sneed failed to withdraw from pending lawsuits; failed
to removed any indicia of being a lawyer; violated the prohibition against soliciting for and taking on new
clients; and failed to give notice of his suspension as required by Section 18 of Supreme Court Rule 9.
The Court sentenced Mr. Sneed to a period of incarceration of 50 days, ordered him to pay a fine of
$2,500 and ordered him to pay to the Board its costs and expenses of the proceeding. Mr. Sneed was ordered to
surrender to the Davidson County Sherriff's Office by February 10, 2010.
Sneed 1339-5 rel.doc
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