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: MURRAY B. WELLS, BPR# 21749
CONTACT: KIMBRA SPANN
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
January 21, 2010
MEMPHIS LAWYER CENSURED
On January 21, 2010, Murray B. Wells, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Wells was an owner/operator of a title company. He was an authorized title agent/closing attorney
for a title insurance underwriter. Mr. Wells was to maintain an escrow/trust account and reconcile that account
monthly under his agreement with the underwriter.
Mr. Wells employed a non-lawyer to handle closings and disburse the settlement proceeds in accordance
with contract guidelines and lender instructions. Mr. Wells failed to do monthly audits of his trust account. As
a result, a theft occurred when Mr. Wells failed to properly supervise his non-lawyer closing agent. In addition,
Mr. Wells failed to provide recompense to the insurance underwriter, although no consumers suffered losses.
Murray B. Wells violated Rule of Professional Conduct 5.3(b) (failure to supervise non-lawyer assistant)
and 1.15 (safekeeping property). For these violations, the Board of Professional Responsibility publicly
censures Murray B. Wells. A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the
attorneyâs ability to practice law.
Wells 30541-9 rel.doc
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